Vladislav Achalov

Vladislav Achalov (Владисла́в Алексе́евич Ача́лов) (19 November 1945 – 23 June 2011) was a Soviet general who at one time commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces.

Achalov graduated from the Kazan Tank School of Red Army in 1966. He started his career in the army as a commander of a platoon of tanks, and later he became the commander of a company of tanks. In 1973 he graduated from the Academy of Armoured Forces but transferred to the Airborne Forces in 1974, becoming commander of an artillery regiment. In 1975–1977 he was a commander of an airborne regiment and later (1977–1978) vice-commander of 98 Airborne Division. From 1978 to 1982 he was commander of the 7th Airborne Division. In February 1981 he visited Warsaw and in September he participated in "Zapad-81" training exercise.

After graduating from the Voroshilov General Staff Academy in 1984, he became the deputy commander of the 3rd guards tank army and 1985 commander of the 8th Army within the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1987–1989 he was working in Leningrad. From January 1989 till December 1990 he was commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces and later (till August 1991) deputy minister of defence and member of Supreme Council of Russian Soviet Republic in 1990–1993.

He was a supporter of the failed coup attempts of 1991 and 1993. In his later years he led a union of veteran paratroopers and organised a large protest against military reform. Achalov died at a Moscow hospital on 23 June 2011, aged 65.