MOSCOW. July 30 (Interfax-AVN) - Lieutenant General Alexander Kalmykov, chief-of-staff of the Far Eastern military district, may become the new commander of the Russian Airborne Force, a competent source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax- Military News Agency on Wednesday.
Kalmykov will replace Colonel General Georgy Shpak, who turns 60 in September this year and has to retire from the Armed Forces, the source said.
"Lieutenant General Kalmykov has already done an interview with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, and the latter signed the resolution suggesting Colonel General Kalmykov's nomination as Airborne Force commander," the source noted.
Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich, deputy commander of the Land Forces for peacekeeping troops, and Colonel General Vladimir Moltenskoi, deputy commander of the Land Forces, were also considered as candidates for the position.
"It is of interest that Lieutenant General Nikolai Staskov, the Airborne Force chief-of-staff, is not among the candidates, even though he is the first deputy commander of the Airborne Force, has a substantial experience in peacekeeping activity, and enjoys authority in the troops," the source said.
Kalmykov was born in 1955. He graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command College, Frunze Military Academy and General Staff Academy. Before 1993, he held various positions in the Airborne Force. In 1980, he was a deputy battalion commander in Afghanistan. In the early 1990s, he was in command of the 106th airborne division in Pskov. After graduating from the General Staff Academy, Kalmykov served as deputy commander and later commander of the 22nd joint-arms army. Following that, he was appointed chief-of-staff of the Far Eastern military district.