Vladimir Semyonov (general)

Vladimir Magomedovich Semyonov (Russian: Владимир Магомедович Семёнов; born June 8, 1940, Khor, Dagestan ASSR, Soviet Union – died November 21, 2016, Moscow, Russia) was a Russian Army general and politician. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces from 1991 to 1996.

Semyonov graduated from the Baku Higher Combined Arms Command School in 1962 and the Frunze Military Academy in 1973. He also completed the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR in 1979.

His military career progressed through various command positions, including platoon commander, company commander, battalion commander, regiment commander, division commander, and army commander in the Soviet Army. He commanded the 4th Army in the Transcaucasian Military District during the early stages of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, and was involved in military operations within Azerbaijan.

In August 1991, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, a position he held until 1996. During his tenure, the Ground Forces underwent significant restructuring following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He oversaw the initial phases of the First Chechen War.

After retiring from the military in 1996, Semyonov entered politics. He served as the Presidential Representative in the Republic of Dagestan from 1998 to 2000. From 2003 to 2007, he was a Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation representing the United Russia party. He held the position of Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's Committee on Security.

Semyonov held a Candidate of Military Sciences degree and was a recipient of several state awards, including the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd class, and the Order of Honour.