Vasily Ivanovich Petrov

Vasily Ivanovich Petrov (Васи́лий Ива́нович Петро́в), (born 15 January 1917) is a senior Russian military official. As of 2013, he is one of only two surviving Marshals of the Soviet Union (the other being former Minister of Defense Dmitry Yazov), and is the eldest of the two.

Background
Petrov was born in 1917 in Stavropol Krai. He completed high school in 1935 and studied for two years at a teacher training institute until 1937.

Petrov joined the Red Army in 1939 and completed the lieutenant's course in 1941.

During World War II, he fought in the defence of Odessa, defence of Sevastopol and the Campaign in the Caucasus. He later took part in the liberation of the Ukraine and the invasion of Romania, in addition to the Budapest Offensive in Hungary.

After the war, Petrov completed Military Studies at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow. He subsequently rose through the Russian military ranks, being promoted to Colonel in 1952, Major General in 1961, Lieutenant General in 1965, Colonel General in 1970 and General in 1972. In 1983, Petrov was eventually appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union.

In the late 1970s, Petrov served as a military advisor to the Ethiopian Army. He was assigned to assist and rebuild the force during the Ogaden War.

In 1982, Petrov was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union.

He commanded the Far East Military District in 1972-76 and served as Commander-in-Chief of Ground Forces in 1980-85.

Since 1992, Petrov has served as a military advisor to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

Honours and awards

 * Soviet Union and Russia
 * Hero of the Soviet Union (16 February 1982)
 * Order of Alexander Nevsky (3 May 2012)
 * Four Orders of Lenin (December 1967, February 1978, 16 February 1982, January 1987)
 * Order of the October Revolution (February 1974)
 * Order of the Red Banner (October 1944)
 * Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class, twice (July 1944, April 1985), 2nd class (October 1943)
 * Order of the Red Star, twice (November 1942, October 1955)
 * Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 3rd class (February 1976)
 * Medal for Combat Service
 * Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR"
 * Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus"
 * Medal "For the Defence of Odessa"
 * Medal "For the Defence of Sevastopol"
 * Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation"
 * Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Medal "For the Capture of Budapest"
 * Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"


 * Foreign awards
 * Order "Ernesto Che Guevara", 1st class (Cuba, 1985)
 * Order of the Red Banner (Czechoslovakia) (1982)
 * Order Pobedonostnogo February (Czechoslovakia) (1985)
 * Order of Sukhbaatar (Mongolia, 1981)
 * Order of the Red Banner (Mongolia, 1982)
 * Order "For Military Merit" (Mongolia, 1971)
 * Scharnhorst Order (East Germany, 1983)
 * Order of the Flag of the Hungarian Republic with diamonds (Hungary, 1985)
 * Order of Tudor Vladimirescu, 1st class (Romania, 1974)
 * Order "For Military Merit", 1st class (Romania, 1985)
 * Order of the National Flag (Ethiopia, 1982)
 * Order of National Flag of Korea (North Korea, 1985)
 * Order "The People's Republic of Bulgaria", 1st class (1985)
 * Order "For military valour", 1st class (1983)


 * Faith-based
 * Order of St. Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, 2nd class