Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces

Commanding General of the Russian Aerospace Forces

Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силами (Russian)
Flag of the Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Incumbent Colonel general Viktor Afzalov since 22 August 2023
Russian Aerospace Forces
Member of	General Staff of the Armed Forces
Reports to	Chief of the General Staff
Appointer	President of Russia
Formation	1 August 2015
First holder	Viktor Bondarev
Deputy	Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force
Website	Official website

The Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces (Russian: Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силами, romanized: Glavnokomándujuščij vozdúšno-kosmíčeskij sílami) is the chief commanding authority of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The position was created in 2015, when the Russian Air Force, Russian Air and Missile Defence Forces and Russian Space Forces where placed under a unified command.^[1] He is appointed by the President of Russia. The current commander is Colonel general Viktor Afzalov.^[2]

List of Commanders

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Bondarev, ViktorColonel general Viktor Bondarev (born 1959)	1 August 2015	26 September 2017	2 years, 56 days	^[3]^[4]
–		Kurachenko, PavelLieutenant general Pavel Kurachenko (born 1961) Acting	26 September 2017	22 November 2017	57 days	^[5]
2		Surovikin, SergeyArmy general Sergey Surovikin (born 1966)	22 November 2017	22 August 2023	5 years, 273 days	^[6]^[4]
–		Colonel general Viktor Afzalov (born 1968)	22 August 2023	20 October 2023	59 days	^[7]
3		Colonel general Viktor Afzalov (born 1968)	20 October 2023	Incumbent	190 days	^[8]

References

^ Russia creates new Aerospace Force service branch Archived 2015-12-27 at the Wayback Machine, janes.com, 4 August 2015
^ "Генерал-полковника Афзалова назначили главкомом ВКС, сообщил источник" [Colonel-General Afzalov has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces, a source said]. ria.ru (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
^ "Официальное опубликование правовых актов в электронном виде". pravo.gov.ru. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
^ ^a ^b Создатель военной полиции генерал Суровикин возглавит ВКС России Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 21 September 2017.
^ "Источник: врио главкома ВКС назначен генерал-лейтенант Павел Кураченко" (in Russian). TACC. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
^ Источники сообщили о смене командующего ВКС России RIA Novosti, 21 September 2017.
^ Andrew Osborn (23 August 2023). "Russia names new air force chief after mutiny-related disappearance of 'General Armageddon'". Reuters.
^ Jones, Gareth (27 October 2023). "Colonel-General Afzalov confirmed as chief of Russian aerospace forces - defence ministry". Reuters.

Russian Armed Forces

Leadership

President of Russia as Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Minister of Defence
- Ministry of Defence
Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence
- General Staff
Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy

Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces	Commander of the Air Force Commander of the Missile Defence Forces Commander of the Space Forces

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Previous	Leningrad Moscow Volga–Ural (Volga Ural) North Caucasus Siberian Far Eastern Kaliningrad Special Region
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Logistical Support troops	Road Railway Pipeline

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12th Chief Directorate
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