Nikolay Makarov (general)

Army General Nikolai Yegorovich Makarov (Никола́й Его́рович Мака́ров; born 7 October 1949) is a retired Russian military officer who served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia and First Deputy Minister of Defence from 2007 to 2012.

Early life and career
He was born in Glebovo-Gorodishche, Ryazan Oblast and graduated from the Higher Moscow Combined Arms Command School.



Makarov's military career began when he commanded a platoon with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. He later attended the Frunze Military Academy in 1979 and served in various positions, including deputy regiment commander, deputy division commander, and motorized rifle division commander in the Transbaikal Military District. In 1993, he graduated from the General Staff Academy and served as chief of staff for the Russian Joint Force in Tajikistan. He was then assigned to the Volga Military District as the chief of staff for an independent army. In 1998, Makarov became the ground and coastal force commander at the Baltic Fleet, and in 1999, he assumed the role of first deputy commander in the Moscow Military District. In 2002, he was appointed as Commander of the Siberian Military District. Makarov's achievements and contributions led to his promotion to General of the Army by President Vladimir Putin in 2005. He held various important positions within the Russian Armed Forces, including Chief of Armament and Deputy Minister of Defence.

Chief of the General Staff (2008–2012)
In 2008, Makarov took on the responsibilities of Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence. During the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, he oversaw the deployment of Russian troops into Georgia.

In October 2009, the President Dmitry Medvedev extended Makarov's military service to age 65.

Major measures to reform the Armed Forces are associated with Makarov’s activities as Chief of the General Staff. In particular, the troop command and control system and the system of logistics and logistics support for troops were reorganized; a new district was created; the number of armed forces personnel has been reduced and the conscription period has been shortened.

Post-military
Makarov's tenure as Chief of the General Staff ended in 2012 when he was replaced by Valery Gerasimov. After his dismissal, he was appointed as an aide to the Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu as an Analyst under the Office of Inspectors General in March 2013.

Awards
Throughout his career, Makarov received several honors and awards:

USSR and Russia

 * Hero of the Russian Federation (March 23, 2012)
 * Order of St. George, II degree (August 18, 2008)  .
 * Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (2010)
 * Order of Military Merit (1996)
 * Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree (1988)

Foreign awards

 * 🇲🇳 Order of the Polar Star (February 2010)
 * 🇧🇾 Order of Friendship of Peoples (March 31, 2010)

Personal life
Makarov has a family that resides mainly in Canada and Russia. His wife, Anita Yegorovich, died in 2003. He has a daughter named Tatiana and an adopted son named Andrei Popov, who went missing in 2004.