Viktor Chirkov
Viktor Viktorovich Chirkov (; born 8 September 1959, in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR) is a Russian admiral and the former commander of the Baltic Fleet. On 6 May 2012, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, succeeding Vladimir Vysotsky, who had occupied the post for almost five years. He retired from his position due to health reasons in March 2016. Military career Chirkov is a surface warfare officer with Pacific Fleet roots. He was born on 8 September 1959 in Alma-Ata, capital of the former Kazakh SSR. In 1982, he graduated from the Pacific Higher Naval School in Vladivostok and became head of the mine-torpedo department on the Riga-class frigate Lun in the Pacific Fleet. He served as assistant commander of a corvette, then executive officer of the Kotlin-class destroyer Vozbuzhdennyy. In 1986-1987, Chirkov completed Higher Special Officers’ Classes in Leningrad, and became commander of the infamous Krivak-class frigate Storozhevoy. Under a mutinous crew, this Soviet Baltic Fleet unit had tried, unsuccessfully, to defect in 1975. Later it transferred to the Pacific Fleet. From 1990 to 1993, Chirkov commanded the Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Spiridonov. He was deputy chief of staff for an ASW ship division, deputy division commander, and commander