Vasily Lunev

Vasily Lunev was born in 1956 in Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union.^[2] Lunev attended and graduated from the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, the Frunze Military Academy, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia.^[3]

Lunev was the military commissioner of Perm Krai from December 2007 to March 2008. From March 2008 to March 2009, Lunev served the Minister of Defense of South Ossetia.^[3] According to Russian media, Lunev commanded the 58th Army from 9 to 18 August 2008 during the Russo-Georgian War after Colonel General Anatoly Khrulyov was wounded in action.^[2][4] According to Anatoly Barankevich [ru], the head of the South Ossetian Security Council, Lunev commanded the Special Battalions Vostok and Zapad during the Battle of Tskhinvali. Lunev resigned as minister after being unable to obtain a new position in Eduard Kokoity's cabinet^[4] and resumed his service as the military commissioner of Perm Krai. From March 2013 to March 2017, Lunev was a part of a groups military specialists in Algeria.^[3]

On 2 August 2018, Abkhaz president Raul Khajimba announced Lunev's appointment as the Chief of the General Staff, succeeding Khrulyov who had served since 2015.^[2] He also served as the First Deputy Minister of Defense.^[3] On 4 November 2022, Lunev was succeeded by Colonel General Vladimir Savchenko.^[1]

Lunev has received the following awards and decorations.

Russia / Soviet Union^[2]

• Medal for Military Valor [ru], 1st class
• Medal for Military Valor [ru], 2nd class
• Medal for Impeccable Service, 1st class
• Medal for Impeccable Service, 2nd class
• Medal for Impeccable Service, 3rd class
• 60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR Jubilee Medal (1978)
• 70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR Jubilee Medal (1988)
• 200 Years of the Ministry of Defense Medal [ru] (2002)
• Medal for Strengthening Military Cooperation [ru]

South Ossetia

• Order of Friendship [ru] (22 February 2013)^[5]