Viktor Dubynin

Viktor Petrovich Dubynin
Born 1 February 1943
Bolshaya Riga, Kurgan Oblast, RSFSR
Died 22 November 1992 (aged 49)
Moscow
Allegiance  Soviet Union
 Russia
Years of service 1961–1992
Rank Army General (Russia)
Commands held 40th Army,
Northern Group of Forces,
General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan
Awards Hero of the Russian Federation,
Order of the Red Banner,
Order for Service to the Homeland, 2d class

Viktor Petrovich Dubynin (Russian: Виктор Петрович Дубынин) was a prominent Soviet and Russian military figure, Army General, Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).

Born in 1943, Viktor Dubynin had been in service with the Soviet Army since 1961. In 1964 he graduated from the Far Eastern Tank Academy, in 1978 - from Rodion Malinovsky Armored Forces Academy, in 1984 - from General Staff Academy.

In 1986–1987 he served as commander of the Soviet 40th Army in Afghanistan.

In 1989–1992 he was the pre-last commander of the Soviet Northern Group of Forces in Poland.

On 10 June 1992, Dubynin was appointed by President Boris Yeltsin as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. On 5 October, he became Russia's first General of the Army since the Collapse of the Soviet Union. At that moment Dubynin was already suffering from terminal cancer, so then-Minister of Defense Pavel Grachev had to visit him at his hospital ward in order to hand Dubynin's shoulder boards over to him.

Dubynin died on 22 November 1992. His grave is at Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Military offices
Preceded by
Vladimir Lobov
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
10 June – 22 November 1992
Succeeded by
Mikhail Kolesnikov