Nikolai Kostechko

Nikolai Nikolayevich Kostechko (; 25 November 1946 – 3 July 2022) was an officer of the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and its Russian successor, the Main Directorate of the General Staff. He rose to the rank of colonel general and served as the Main Directorate's Chief of Staff and First Deputy Director. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation in 2000.

Early life Kostechko was born on 25 November 1946 in the village of , Pinsk District, in what was then the Pinsk Region of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, in the Soviet Union. He graduated from secondary school in in 1964, and was drafted into the Soviet Army that year. He enrolled in the Cherepovets Military School of Communications, graduating from there in 1967, and was assigned to serve in special units of the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). He undertook further studies, graduating from the in 1973, and from the Higher Academic Courses of the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1996. He oversaw trials of the Ka-50 helicopter and recommended it be adopted into service. He was also involved in the production of the 1993 film , which brought the helicopter and the work of Russian special forces to public attention.

Higher intelligence posts Kostechko was appointed head of the GRU's 14th Directorate during the 1990s, and then Chief of Staff and First Deputy Director of the Main Intelligence Directorate, a post he held until 2009.

In addition to his intelligence work, Kostechko had the title of , was a Doctor of military sciences, professor, and author of more than 25 scientific papers on the theory and practice of special operations and command and control.

In retirement Kostechko lived in Moscow, where he died on 3 July 2022 at the age of 75.