Valentin Korabelnikov

General of the Army Valentin Korabelnikov
Валентин Корабельников
Director of Russian Military Intelligence
In office May 1997 – 24 April 2009
Preceded by	Fyodor Ladygin
Succeeded by	Alexander Shlyakhturov
Personal details
Born	(1946-01-04) January 4, 1946 (age 78) Tambov Oblast, Soviet Union
Awards	Hero of the Russian Federation Order of the Red Star Order of Military Merit Order of Courage Order of Merit for the Fatherland
Military service
Allegiance	Russia
Branch/service	Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Years of service	1969–2009
Rank	Army General
Unit	Military Intelligence
Battles/wars	Cold War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War

Army General Valentin Vladimirovich Korabelnikov (Russian: Валентин Владимирович Корабельников, born January 4, 1946) is a Russian general, best known for being the longest serving director of the GRU for nearly 12 years.

Korabelnikov attended the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Rocket School of Air Defense, from which he graduated in 1969, and subsequently graduated from the M. V. Frunze Military Academy in 1974 and the General Staff Academy in 1988.^[1]

In May 1997, Korabelnikov was appointed Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian General Staff, Russia's largest intelligence agency. Korabelnikov worked his way up the GRU hierarchy for 20 years before becoming the Intelligence Directorate's head.^[1] Korabelnikov spent time alongside Spetsnaz brigades in Chechnya, while he was reportedly responsible for the operation which resulted in the elimination of Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev in 1996.^[1] Korabelnikov often involved himself personally in operational work, and was reportedly wounded by Chechen fighters.^[1]

In July 1999, Korabelnikov received an official acknowledgment from president Boris Yeltsin for his "significant contribution to the settlement of the Kosovo Conflict". He was a member of Russian delegation, led by Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov that met with Slobodan Milosevic during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.^[2]

On 24 April 2009, President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree dismissing Korabelnikov from his position as head of the GRU's Intelligence Directorate, replacing him with Gen Alexander Shlyakhturov.^[3] No reason was given the decision, however Korabelnikov had reportedly tendered his resignation earlier in 2009 due to disagreement over military reforms.

• Smart and well trained people work with US His interview
• Another interview (Russian)
• His biography (Russian)