Vasily Lunev | |
|---|---|
Василий Лунев | |
| Chief of the General Staff of Abkhazia | |
| In office 2 August 2018 – 4 November 2022 | |
| President | Raul Khajimba |
| Preceded by | Anatoly Khrulyov |
| Succeeded by | Vladimir Savchenko |
| Minister of Defense of South Ossetia | |
| In office March 2008 – March 2009 | |
| President | Eduard Kokoity |
| Preceded by | Oleg Ivannikov |
| Succeeded by | Yuri Tanayev |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Vasily Vasilyevich Lunev 1956 (age 69–70) |
| Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School Frunze Military Academy Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia | |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union Russia South Ossetia Abkhazia |
| Branch/service | Soviet Army Russian Ground Forces South Ossetia Army Abkhazia Army |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | 58th Army |
| Battles/wars | |
Vasily Vasilyevich Lunev (Russian: Василий Васильевич Лунев;[1] born 1956) is a Russian military officer. He has served as the Minister of Defense of South Ossetia from 2008 to 2009 and as the Chief of the General Staff of Abkhazia from 2018 to 2022.
Biography
Vasily Lunev was born in 1956 in Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union.[2] Lunev attended and graduated from the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, the Frunze Military Academy, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia.[3]
Lunev was the military commissioner of Perm Krai from December 2007 to March 2008. From March 2008 to March 2009, Lunev served the Minister of Defense of South Ossetia.[3] According to Russian media, Lunev commanded the 58th Army from 9 to 18 August 2008 during the Russo-Georgian War after Colonel General Anatoly Khrulyov was wounded in action.[2][4] According to Anatoly Barankevich, the head of the South Ossetian Security Council, Lunev commanded the Special Battalions Vostok and Zapad during the Battle of Tskhinvali. Lunev resigned as minister after being unable to obtain a new position in Eduard Kokoity's cabinet[4] and resumed his service as the military commissioner of Perm Krai. From March 2013 to March 2017, Lunev was a part of a groups military specialists in Algeria.[3]
On 2 August 2018, Abkhaz president Raul Khajimba announced Lunev's appointment as the Chief of the General Staff, succeeding Khrulyov who had served since 2015.[2] He also served as the First Deputy Minister of Defense.[3] On 4 November 2022, Lunev was succeeded by Colonel General Vladimir Savchenko.[1]
Awards and decorations
Lunev has received the following awards and decorations.
Medal for Military Valor, 1st class
Medal for Military Valor, 2nd class
Medal for Impeccable Service, 1st class
Medal for Impeccable Service, 2nd class
Medal for Impeccable Service, 3rd class
60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR Jubilee Medal (1978)
70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR Jubilee Medal (1988)
200 Years of the Ministry of Defense Medal (2002)
Medal for Strengthening Military Cooperation
Order of Friendship (22 February 2013)[5]
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References
- "Аслан Бжания Представил Личному Составу Минобороны Нового Начальника Генштаба вс ра Владимира Савченко" [Aslan Bzhaniya Introduced the New Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia, Vladimir Savchenko, to the Ministry of Defense]. Apsnypress (in Russian). Sukhumi, Abkhazia. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- "Russian General Appointed as Abkhaz Army Chief". Civil Georgia. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- "Василий Лунев" [Vasily Lunev]. Business Class (in Russian). Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- "Что стало с героями пятидневной войны" [What Happened to the Heroes of the Five Day War?]. Kommersant (in Russian). 5 August 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- "Указ «О Награждении Орденом Дружбы Лунева В.В.»" [Decree "On Awarding the Order of Friendship to V.V. Lunev"]. Presidency of South Ossetia (in Russian). Tskhinvali, South Ossetia. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2026.