Aleksandr Dvornikov

Aleksandr Vladimirovich Dvornikov (Russian: Александр Владимирович Дворников; born 22 August 1961) is a Russian Ground Forces army general and a Hero of the Russian Federation.

Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov
Colonel General Dvornikov in 2016
Native name	Александр Владимирович Дворников
Born	22 August 1961 Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Soviet Union  Russia
Service/branch	Soviet Army  Russian Ground Forces
Years of service	1978–present
Rank	Army General
Commands held	19th Motor Rifle Division 5th Red Banner Army Central Military District Russian Armed Forces in Syria Southern Military District
Battles/wars	Russian military intervention in Syria
Awards	Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class Order of Courage Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class Order of Military Merit Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd class

Dvornikov joined the Soviet Army in 1978 after graduating from the Ussuriysk Suvorov Military School. He then entered the Moscow High Command Training School, graduating four years later, after which Dvornikov served in the Far Eastern Military District. He then studied at the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1991. Dvornikov was sent to the Western Group of Forces, serving as a battalion commander in the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. In the late 1990s, he commanded regiments in the 10th Guards Tank Division and the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division. Dvornikov became chief of staff and then commander of a motor rifle division in the North Caucasus Military District. After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff, he became deputy commander and chief of staff of the 36th Army. In 2008, Dvornikov took command of the 5th Red Banner Army.

After serving as deputy commander of the Eastern Military District, Dvornikov became the Central Military District's chief of staff, serving as its acting commander for a month. In September 2015, he became the first commander of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria at the beginning of the Russian military intervention in Syria. Dvornikov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation for leading the Russian military intervention in Syria and in September 2016 was appointed commander of the Southern Military District.[1]

Early life and Soviet military career

Dvornikov was born on 22 August 1961 in Ussuriysk. He graduated from the Ussuriysk Suvorov Military School in 1978 and joined the Soviet Army. Dvornikov received further education at the Moscow High Command Training School, graduating in 1982. From 1982, he served in the Far Eastern Military District as a platoon and then company commander, and as a battalion chief of staff. In 1991, Dvornikov graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. He became a deputy battalion commander in the Western Group of Forces.[1]

Career in the Russian Ground Forces

Between 1992 and 1994, Dvornikov commanded the 154th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion of the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. In 1995, he became chief of staff and deputy commander of the 10th Guards Tank Division's 248th Motor Rifle Regiment. Dvornikov became regimental commander in 1996. On 20 January 1996, he was awarded the Order of Military Merit. On 2 February 1996, he was awarded the Order of Courage. In 1997, he transferred to command the 1st Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division in the Moscow Military District. Between 2000 and 2003 he was chief of staff and then commander of the 19th Motor Rifle Division[2] in the North Caucasus Military District. On 6 May 2000, he was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class with swords. Dvornikov graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2005.[1][3]

Dvornikov (2nd from the left), Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu alongside other Russian advisors at Khmeimim Air Base, 18 June 2016.

Dvornikov with Armenian Defence Minister David Tonoyan, 9 February 2019.

In 2005, Dvornikov became deputy commander and chief of staff of the 36th Army in the Siberian Military District. In 2008, he took command of the 5th Red Banner Army. Dvornikov became deputy commander of the Eastern Military District in 2011. From May 2012 to June 2016, he served as chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Central Military District. Between November and December 2012, he was acting commander of the district. On 13 December 2012, Dvornikov became a lieutenant general. On 13 December 2014, he was promoted to colonel general. In September 2015, Dvornikov became the first commander of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria during the Russian military intervention in Syria. On 17 March 2016, he was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation for his leadership.[4] In July, Dvornikov became the Southern Military District's acting commander. He was confirmed in the position on 20 September 2016.[1][5] By a decree from President Putin, Dvornikov was promoted to the rank of Army General on 23 June 2020.[6]

With the promotion to Army General, Dvornikov is most likely set to succeed General Valery Gerasimov who is nearing the age limit as the next Chief of the General Staff.

References

1. "Aleksandr Dvornikov". warheroes.ru (in Russian).
2. Gavrilov, Yuri (6 May 2003). "Остановите Дворникова!" [Stop Dvornikov!]. Moskovskiye Komsomolets (in Russian). Retrieved 3 October 2016.
3. Pavlenko, Maxim (22 September 2016). "Кавказ на осадном положении" [Caucasus in state of change]. Kavpolit (in Russian). Retrieved 3 October 2016.
4. "Награждённые государственными наградами Российской Федерации" [Those awarded state awards of the Russian Federation] (in Russian). President of Russia. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
5. Milenin, Andrei (20 September 2016). "Александр Дворников назначен командующим войсками ЮВО" [Aleksandr Dvornikov appointed commander of the Southern Military District]. Isvestia (in Russian). Retrieved 2 October 2016.
6. "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 23.06.2020 № 413 "О присвоении воинского звания Дворникову А.В."".