Valentin Korabelnikov

Army General Valentin Vladimirovich Korabelnikov (born January 4, 1946) is a retired Russian military officer best known for being the longest serving director of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) for nearly 12 years.

Biography Korabelnikov attended the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Rocket School of Air Defense, from which he graduated in 1969, and subsequently graduated from the M. V. Frunze Military Academy in 1974 and the General Staff Academy in 1988.

In May 1997, Korabelnikov was appointed Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian General Staff, Russia's largest intelligence agency. Korabelnikov worked his way up the GRU hierarchy for 20 years before becoming the Intelligence Directorate's head.

On 24 April 2009, President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree dismissing Korabelnikov from his position as head of the GRU's Intelligence Directorate, replacing him with Gen Alexander Shlyakhturov. No reason was given the decision, however Korabelnikov had reportedly tendered his resignation earlier in 2009 due to disagreement over ongoing military reforms.