Aleksandr Dvornikov
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Dvornikov (Russian: Александр Владимирович Дворников; born 22 August 1961) is a Russian army general who commanded the Russian military intervention in Syria and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Aleksandr Dvornikov | |
|---|---|
Dvornikov in 2021 | |
| Native name | Александр Владимирович Дворников |
| Nickname(s) | Butcher of Syria |
| Born | 22 August 1961 Ussuriysk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union Russia |
| Service/ | Soviet Army Russian Ground Forces |
| Years of service | 1978–present |
| Rank | Army general |
| Commands held | 19th Motor Rifle Division 5th Red Banner Army Central Military District (9 November – 24 December 2012; interim) Russian Armed Forces in Syria Southern Military District Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine |
| Battles/wars | Second Chechen War Russian military intervention in Syria 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Awards | Hero of the Russian Federation Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class Order of Courage Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class Order of Military Merit Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd class |
After joining the Soviet Army in 1978, Dvornikov rose through the ranks of the Soviet and then Russian army over a period of thirty years. In 2015, he became commander of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria during the Russian military intervention there. At that time he cemented a reputation for the harsh conduct of his military campaigns as those in Chechnya before.
In April 2022, Dvornikov was placed in charge of military operations during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, until he was replaced with Colonel general Gennady Zhidko late in May 2022.