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.

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Gorshkov

The man who made the Russian Navy what it is today is Sergei Gorshkov. 

Admiral Gorshkov on the cover of Time magazine in 1968

     Starting in 1956 until 1985 Admiral Gorshkov was commander-in-chief of the Soviet Navy. Under his leadership the Soviet Navy went from being a mainly coastal force into a force that was able to project power throughout the world.  Here is a quote from him expressing his accomplishment:


"The flag of the Soviet navy now proudly flies over the oceans of the world. Sooner or later, the U.S. will have to understand that it no longer has mastery of the seas."

—Admiral Sergei Gorshkov

     Gorshkov was born in present day Ukraine on Feb, 26, 1910. After finishing schooling there he first attended Leningrad State University (now Saint Petersburg State University), but he was then accepted into the Frunze military academy. When he graduated he first served on a minesweeper in the Black Sea Fleet, and then was transferred to the Pacific Fleet for several years. Just prior to the start of the Great Patriotic War (World War Two) Gorshkov returned to the Black Sea fleet and was the commander of squadron of cruisers. 

Hero of the Soviet Union

 During the war Gorshkov distinguished himself in battle, and finished the war with the rank of Vice Admiral. He then commanded the Black Sea Fleet from 1951-1955. For his actions during the war he was awarded the highest military decoration of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union.

 In 1956 Gorshkov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Soviet Navy. Under his leadership the Soviet Navy started a massive build-up, and by the 1970's was a force that could challenge the Western naval forces. 

Gorshkov visiting a computer facility

Admiral Gorskov retired in 1985 finally having the fleet that he had dreamed of.  For his accomplishments he was awarded another Hero of the Soviet Union.

He passed away three years later and was buried in Novodevichy Cemetery. 

Headstone of Gorshkov

In his honor the Russian Navy renamed the aircraft carrier Baku, Admiral Gorshkov. 

Admiral Gorshkov 

And currently the Russian Navy is building a new class of frigates named in honor of Admiral Gorshkov. 

Read more: 
New York Times article published when Admiral Gorshkov died. 
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/15/obituaries/sergei-gorshkov-dies-at-78-admiral-built-soviet-navy.html