Mikhail Abramov

Mikhail Leopoldovich Abramov (; born 6 July 1956) was an officer of the Soviet and Russian Navies. He held the rank of admiral, and served as commander of the Northern Fleet from 2004 to 2005, and chief of staff and first deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy between 2005 and 2009.

Biography Abramov was born on 6 July 1956 in Vladivostok, in what was then the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, in the Soviet Union. He was born into a naval family, his father, Leopold Abramov, was a captain 1st rank who commanded destroyers, was the executive officer of a cruiser, and head of the mine and anti-submarine weapon department at the Pacific Higher Naval School in Vladivostok. His mother worked at a submarine repair plant and also taught at the Pacific Higher Naval School. Mikhail Abramov also entered the Soviet Navy, studying at the Pacific Higher Naval School from 1973 to 1978, graduating with a specialisation in electrical engineering. He was first assigned to the Pacific Fleet as commander of a weapons post aboard the Krivak-class frigate Storozhevoy from 1978 until 1980, and then mine-torpedo warhead unit commander from 1980 to 1981. Over the following years he rose to be an executive officer from 1981 to 1983, and took the Higher Special Officer Classes of the Navy between 1983 and 1984. He then served as commander of the Retivyy from 1984 to 1987, and then studied at the Grechko Naval Academy from 1987 to 1989.

From 1990 to 1995, Abramov was chief of staff, and then commander of the 35th surface ship division. He held this post until 4 September 2005, when he was appointed chief of staff and first deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, succeeding Admiral Vladimir Masorin on his appointment as navy commander-in-chief. He remained in this role until his retirement on 7 June 2009. Over his career he had carried out a number of long-distance voyages, visiting ports in Vietnam, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan.

Abramov is married, with a son.

Honours and awards Over his career Abramov has received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" fourth class, the Order of Military Merit, and various other medals.