Andrei Serdiukov

Colonel General Andrey Nikolayevich Serdyukov (born 4 March 1962) is a Russian Airborne Forces officer who was commander of the Russian Airborne Forces from 2016 to 2022. He also commanded the Operational Group of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria from 2022 to 2023 and has been the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization since 2023.

Serdyukov served in the Soviet Airborne Forces as a junior officer and rose to battalion command. He graduated from the Frunze Military Academy and became a deputy regimental commander in the Russian Airborne Troops and then a regimental commander. Serdyukov fought in the First Chechen War and served in the Russian military contingent in Kosovo, participating in the Incident at Pristina Airport. Between 2002 and 2003 he led the 138th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade and in 2004 took command of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.

After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2009, Serdyukov became deputy commander of the 5th Red Banner Army, taking command of the army in 2011. In 2013, he became deputy commander and then chief of staff of the Southern Military District. While in this position, Serdyukov led troops in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and commanded Russian troops in the Donbas. He became commander of the Russian Airborne Troops in October 2016 and was replaced in June 2022 by Mikhail Teplinsky.

Early life and career According to official Russian sources, Serdyukov was born on 4 March 1962 in Uglegorsky, Tatsinsky District, Rostov Oblast. Other sources state he was born in Amvrosiivka. In 1983, he graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. He became commander of a reconnaissance platoon of the regimental reconnaissance company in the 104th Guards Airborne Division. Serdyukov became deputy company commander, company commander, chief of staff, deputy battalion commander, and then a battalion commander.

Senior military career In 1993, Serdyukov graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. He became deputy commander of a regiment in the 76th Guards Airborne Division. Serdyukov fought in the First Chechen War. In 1995 he took command of the 237th Guards Airborne Regiment in the division. Between 1997 and 1998 he was chief of staff, deputy commander, and commander of the 104th Guards Airborne Regiment in the division. He was later deputy commander of the division.

Serdyukov was for one year a deputy brigade commander in the Russian military contingent in Kosovo.

Commander airborne troops (2016-2019) On 4 October 2016, Serdyukov was appointed commander of the Russian Airborne Troops, replacing Colonel General Vladimir Shamanov. He was presented the Airborne flag on 10 October by defense minister Sergey Shoygu. Serdyukov recovered by 15 November, when he chaired a meeting of the Military Council of the Airborne Troops.

Syria (2019) From 10 April 2019 to late September 2019, he was the Commander of the troops for the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War to Syria.

CSTO Peacekeepers to Kazakhstan (2022) On January 7, 2022, he was appointed Commander of the CSTO peacekeeping forces in Kazakhstan.

Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022) On 2 February 2022, Serdyukov was rumoured by the Financial Times to be commander of Russian troops that would be sent into Ukraine, if such an action would be taken.

On 19 June 2022, it was reported by Odesa military-civilian spokesperson Serhiy Bratchuk This was confirmed by Russian media reports. He was replaced by Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky. After his dismissal, Serdyukov was sent to Syria to command the Russian Group of Forces in that country.

CSTO Chief of Staff In November 2023, he was appointed chief of joint staff of the CSTO.

Awards Serdyukov has received the following awards. Hero of the Russian Federation (2016)