The Russian Navy Report

Commander In-Chief

 

     The Russian Navy is overseen by an admiral. The current commander in chief is 

Vladimir Sergeevich Vysotsky (Not to be confused with the famous Soviet singer). 

Official photo from the Ministry of Defense

     Vysotskiy graduated from the P.S. Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School in Sevastopol in 1976, and was then sent to serve with the Pacific Fleet. While stationed there he served on a variety of ships, including a being the executive officer (XO) of the Svedlov Class  cruiser Admiral Senyavin.  

Svedlov Class cruiser

     After attending an advanced officers school Vysotskiy was appointed to be the XO of the Soviet aircraft carrier Minsk. 

Kiev class carrier 

      Vysotskiy was assigned as the commanding officer of the Varyag, the sister ship to the Admiral Kuznetsov, but this unit was never finished due to the breakup of the Soviet Union. 

Varyag

      After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Vysotskiy returned to the Pacific Fleet for a time, served with the Baltic Fleet, and eventually was appointed commander of the Northern Fleet in 2005.

      By decree of the president  Vysotskiy was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy. 

       Vysotskiy has severed in the Russian Navy through a very difficult period. A period of decline and budget woes. However if all the promises of Putin are to believed then Vysotskiy will oversee the Russian Navy through a period of enormous change. In a decade the Russian Navy will be a completely different force. If given the opportunity Admiral Vysotskiy will have as much impact on the Russian Navy as Admiral Gorskov had with the Soviet Navy. 

Admiral Vysotskiy on an official visit to India.