The Last Marshal of Russia

Igor Sergeev died

New Russia lost its first and only marshal - last Friday in the Central Military Hospital named after. Burdenko, former Minister of Defense and assistant to the head of state Igor Sergeev, died. For the last three-plus years he has been terminally ill. The cause of death was, according to military doctors, “the terminal stage of cancer.” President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to the marshal’s relatives with the words: “Igor Dmitrievich lived a worthy life, devoting it to serving the Fatherland. He has always been distinguished by his loyalty to the best officer traditions, impeccable professionalism and devotion to duty.”

Igor Sergeev was born in 1938 in the Voroshilovgrad region of Ukraine. Graduated from the Black Sea Higher Naval School named after. Nakhimov, Naval Academy named after. Dzerzhinsky, Military Academy of the General Staff. He served in the Navy for a short time and was transferred to the Strategic Missile Forces, which were being formed in the early 60s. He commanded a missile regiment, a division, was the chief of staff of the missile army, the head of the operational directorate of the Main Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces, and deputy commander-in-chief for combat training. In 1992-1997, Igor Sergeev was Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces; in 1997-2001 he served as Minister of Defense. After resigning, he was appointed assistant to the president for strategic security issues. Awarded many orders and medals. For the last two years, Hero of Russia Sergeev has headed a public organization - the Military Leaders Club.

Igor Sergeev headed the Ministry of Defense at a very difficult time for the country. In this post, he replaced the “rebellious” Igor Rodionov, who did not agree with Boris Yeltsin in his views on military reform. Sergeev had to use remarkable diplomatic skills in order to save the Armed Forces from indiscriminate reductions and not leave them without at least minimal funding. It was under Sergeev that the idea of ​​forming units of constant readiness began to be implemented.

Nevertheless, many people in uniform accuse the marshal of conformism and weakening the army. Opponents considered Igor Sergeev’s main mistake to be his desire to strengthen strategic nuclear forces (SNF) to the detriment of general-purpose forces. The Marshal intended to bring under a single command all components of the strategic nuclear forces - the Strategic Missile Forces, the nuclear fleet and strategic aviation. Even the post of Deputy Minister of Defense for Strategic Nuclear Forces was planned, which was intended for the then commander-in-chief of the Strategic Missile Forces and the favorite of Marshal Vladimir Yakovlev. By that time, the Strategic Missile Forces had absorbed the military space forces and missile and space defense.

Adjustments to the plans were made by the confrontation between the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin. As a result, the result was completely the opposite: the Strategic Missile Forces were demoted from a branch of the armed forces to a branch of the armed forces and remain in this status to this day.

As Minister of Defense, Igor Sergeev survived three government resignations. In the history of the country he will remain as the only Russian marshal and the last (for now) defense minister in uniform.

Nikolay POROSKOV