Mikhail Kovalyov

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Kovalyov (in the center) on the Transbaykal Front

Colonel-General Mikhail Prokofievich Kovalyov (Russian: Михаил Прокофьевич Ковалёв) (7 July [O.S. 26 June] 1897-31 August 1967) was a Soviet military officer.

Mikhail Kovalyov was born to family of a peasant in stanitsa Bryukovetskaya, Krasnodar Krai. In 1915 he was enlisted to the Russian Army. After graduation of a School for Praporshchiks Kovalyov fought in the World War I commanding platoon (polurota), company and then, battalion. At the time of the October Revolution he was a Stabs-Captain. During the Russian Civil War he was a commander of a regiment and then a brigade in the Red Army participating in the fights against White Armies of Denikin, Wrangel and the peasant Tambov rebellion of Alexander Antonov.

From 1937 Kovalyov was the commander of Kiev Military District, then from 1938, he was the commander of Belarussian Military District. He was the commander of the Belarusian Front during the Soviet invasion of Poland in September, 1939. Kovalyov was also the commander of the 15th Army (Soviet Union) during the Winter War (1939-1940). He was the commander of Kharkov Military District, then Inspector of Infantry for the Red Army Commander of the Transbaikal Front during 1941.

In July 1945 he became a vice-commander (Russian: заместитель командующего, zamestitel' komanduyushchego) of the Transbaikal Front and participated in the military actions against Japan. From 1949 he was a vice-commander of Leningrad Military District. Kovalyov retired in 1955 and died in Leningrad in 1967.

His awards include two Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner and an Order of Suvorov 1st class.