Gennady Zhidko

{{Infobox military person

| name = Gennady Zhidko

| native_name = Геннадий Жидко

| native_name_lang = ru

| image = Gennady Zhidko (official portrait) (3x4 cropped).jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2021

| birth_date = {{birth date|1965|09|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Yangiobod, Tashkent Region, Soviet Union

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|08|16|1965|09|12|df=y}}

| death_place = Moscow, Russia

| placeofburial =

| placeofburial_label =

| placeofburial_coordinates =

| nickname =

| birth_name = Gennady Valeryevich Zhidko

| allegiance = {{ubl|Soviet Union|Russia}}

| branch = Russian Ground Forces

| serviceyears = 1988–2023

| rank = Colonel general

| servicenumber =

| unit =

| commands = {{ubl|Eastern Military District|Deputy Minister of Defence}}

| battles =

| battles_label =

| awards = Hero of the Russian Federation

| relations =

| laterwork =

| signature =

}}

Gennady Valeryevich Zhidko ({{langx|ru|Геннадий Валериевич Жидко|links=no}}; 12 September 1965 – 16 August 2023) was a colonel general of the Russian Armed Forces. He was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation in 2017 for his service as chief of staff of Russian forces deployed to Syria. Following this assignment, Zhidko commanded the Eastern Military District and headed the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.

In late May 2022, it was reported that Zhidko had been put in charge of Russian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, replacing Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov. In October 2022, he was replaced by Army General Sergey Surovikin as the new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine.

Early life

Gennady Zhidko was born on 12 September 1965,{{cite web|author=Александр Хроленко|date=29 April 2008|title=Главная высота|url=http://old.redstar.ru/2008/04/29_04/2_01.html|access-date=1 January 2018|work=Krasnaya Zvezda}} in the village of Yangiobod in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.{{cite web |title=Жидко Геннадий Валериевич |trans-title=Zhidko Gennady Valeryevich |url=http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=26211 |access-date=1 January 2018 |publisher=Warheroes.ru |language=Russian}}

Graduating from the Tashkent Higher Tank Command School in 1987, Zhidko became a platoon commander in the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division.{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Жидко Геннадий Валериевич |trans-title=Zhidko Gennady Valeryevich |url=https://structure.mil.ru/structure/okruga/east/head.htm |access-date=2019-04-13 |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Russia |language=Russian}} During Zhidko's service with the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division, part of the Volga and Volga–Ural Military Districts at Totskoye, Orenburg Oblast, Zhidko rose to divizion (artillery battalion) commander, was promoted to captain early, and then to colonel. He received awards for organizing fire training from the commander of the Ural Military District, Colonel-General Alexander Baranov.{{cite web|author=Юрий Белоусов|date=22 November 2003|title=С прицелом на будущее|url=http://old.redstar.ru/2003/11/22_11/1_01.html|access-date=1 January 2018|work=Krasnaya Zvezda}}

In 1997, Zhidko graduated from the Malinovsky Military Armored Forces Academy.

Military career

Zhidko served as commander of the 92nd Motor Rifle Regiment of the 201st Motor Rifle Division in Dushanbe, Tajikistan by 2001.{{cite web |author=Алескендер Рамазанов |date=2001-12-27 |title="В декабре есть еще одна дата…" |trans-title=Zhidko Gennady Valeryevich |url=http://old.redstar.ru/2001/12/27_12/3_01.html |access-date=2018-01-01 |work=Krasnaya Zvezda}}{{cite web |date=28 December 2017 |title=Военнослужащие, получившие награды за операцию в Сирии. Досье |trans-title=Servicemen who received awards for the operation in Syria. Dossier. |url=http://tass.ru/info/4849711 |access-date=1 January 2018 |publisher=TASS}} In 2007, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. From August 2007 to July 2009, he was commander of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the North Caucasian Military District, based in Volgograd. He oversaw the beginning of the transition of the division from conscripts to contract servicemen.{{cite web |author=Александр Хроленко |date=2007-11-27 |title=Реалии контрактизации |trans-title=The realities of contract work. |url=http://old.redstar.ru/2007/11/27_11/5_01.html |access-date=2018-01-01 |work=Krasnaya Zvezda}}{{cite web |author=Юрий Бородин |date=20 December 2007 |title=До чего дошел прогресс… |trans-title=How far progress has come… |url=http://old.redstar.ru/2007/12/20_12/2_01.html |access-date=1 January 2018 |work=Krasnaya Zvezda |language=Russian}}

File:Zhidko and Putin, 2017.jpg in 2017]]

From July 2009 to January 2011, he was the Deputy Commander of the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Moscow, then Western Military Districts with headquarters in Voronezh. From January 2011 to January 2012 – Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of the 6th Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District, based in Saint Petersburg.{{cite web |author=Геннадий Миранович, Олег Починюк |date=2012-05-06 |title=Северо-западный рубеж |trans-title=Northwestern frontier. |url=http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/newspaper/item/980-severo-zapadnyiy-rubezh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001758/http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/newspaper/item/980-severo-zapadnyiy-rubezh |archive-date=2019-02-24 |access-date=2018-01-01 |work=Krasnaya Zvezda}} He participated in the formation of this unit, for his organizational skills he was noted by the commander of the 6th Army, Major General Yevgeny Ustinov,{{cite web|author=Олег Починюк|date=2011-09-16|title=Алгоритм успеха|url=http://old.redstar.ru/2011/09/16_09/2_02.html|access-date=2018-01-01|work=Krasnaya Zvezda}} with the Commander of the Western Military District, Colonel-General Arkady Bakhin.{{cite web|author=Геннадий Миранович, Олег Починюк|url=http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/newspaper/item/980-severo-zapadnyiy-rubezh|title=Северо-западный рубеж|work=Krasnaya Zvezda|date=2012-05-06|access-date=2018-01-01|archive-date=2019-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001758/http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/newspaper/item/980-severo-zapadnyiy-rubezh|url-status=dead}}File:Gennady Zhidko - Eastern Military District (4).jpgFrom January 2015 to September 2016, Zhidko was Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of the 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army, and from September 2016 to November 2017 – Commander of the 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District with headquarters in Samara. During the Zapad-2017 military exercises, the army units were quickly deployed from Samara to the Kola Peninsula.{{cite web|author=Александра Джорджевич, Иван Сафронов |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3486877#id=5|title=Они сражались за Сирию. 11 российских генералов, отличившихся в арабской республике|work=Kommersant|date=2017-12-11|access-date=2018-06-14}} On 20 February 2016, he was promoted to the rank of major general.{{cite web|url=http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/news-menu/pravovye-novosti/dokumenty/item/27880-ukaz-prezidenta-rossijskoj-federatsii|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации "О присвоении воинских званий высших офицеров, специальных званий высшего начальствующего состава и высших специальных званий"|work=Krasnaya Zvezda|date=2016-02-20|access-date=2018-01-01|archive-date=2018-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121509/http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/news-menu/pravovye-novosti/dokumenty/item/27880-ukaz-prezidenta-rossijskoj-federatsii|url-status=dead}} In December 2017, Major General Rustam Muradov took over as commander of the 2nd Combined Arms Army.{{cite web|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12154047@egNews|title=Командующим общевойсковой армией ЦВО в Поволжье назначен кавалер двух Орденов Мужества генерал-майор Рустам Мурадов|publisher=Ministry of Defense of Russia|date=2017-12-07|access-date=2018-01-04}}{{cite web|author=Андрей Борсуков|url=http://www.vkonline.ru/content/view/193269/komandarm-naznachen|title=Командарм назначен. Дмитрий Азаров провел встречу с новым командующим 2-й гвардейской армии Рустамом Мурадовым|work=Volzhskaya kommuna|date=2017-12-07|access-date=2018-01-04|archive-date=2019-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319091300/http://www.vkonline.ru/content/view/193269/komandarm-naznachen|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.guberniatv.ru/news/lichnomu_sostavu_2j_gvardejskoj_obwevojskovoj_armii_predstavili_novogo_komanduyuwego/|title=Личному составу 2-й гвардейской общевойсковой армии представили нового командующего|publisher=Guberniatv|date=2017-12-07|access-date=2018-01-04|archive-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184824/http://www.guberniatv.ru/news/lichnomu_sostavu_2j_gvardejskoj_obwevojskovoj_armii_predstavili_novogo_komanduyuwego/|url-status=dead}} A participant in the Russian military intervention in Syria, in 2016, Zhidko served as chief of staff of the group of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Syria.{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/3629751|title=Жидко: в Сирии проявились положительные изменения в российских ВС|publisher=TASS|date=2016-09-17|access-date=2018-01-01}}{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20171129/1509795306.html|title=Назначены два новых замначальника Генштаба ВС России|publisher=RIA Novosti|date=2017-11-29|access-date=2018-01-01}} From 22 November 2017 to 3 November 2018, he was the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.{{cite web|author=Александр Пинчук, Виктор Худолеев|url=http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/zotov/item/35235-shtandarty-v-nadjozhnykh-rukakh|title=Штандарты в надёжных руках|work=Krasnaya Zvezda|date=29 November 2017|access-date=1 January 2018|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121436/http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/zotov/item/35235-shtandarty-v-nadjozhnykh-rukakh|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Zyryanov |first=Konstantin |date=2025-04-13 |title=Truy Cập J88 |url=https://j888.im |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=j888.im |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4766865|title=Главкомом ВКС назначен Сергей Суровикин|publisher=TASS|date=2017-11-29|access-date=2018-01-01}}{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20171129/1509794230.html|title=Командующий группировкой российских войск в Сирии возглавил ВКС|publisher=RIA Novosti|date=2017-11-29|access-date=2018-06-01}} On 11 June 2018, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201806130027|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 11.06.2018 № 298 "О присвоении воинских званий высших офицеров, специальных званий высшего начальствующего состава и классных чинов"|publisher=Publication.pravo.gov.ru|date=2018-06-11|access-date=2018-06-14}} In November 2018, Zhidko was appointed commander of the Eastern Military District,{{cite book|author=|first=|url=http://sc.mil.ru/files/morf/military/archive/rvo_2018-11.pdf|title=Назначения в Вооружённых Силах|date=November 2018|publisher=«Военинформ» Минобороны России|isbn=|edition=Российское военное обозрение|language=Russian|pages=77–78|chapter=|format=|orig-year=|chapter-url=|agency=}} replacing Alexander Zhuravlyov, who had transferred to the post of commander of the Western Military District, on 13 November,{{cite web|author=Иван Сафронов|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3797582|title=Сирийский опыт передали Западу и Востоку. Определены новые командующие военными округами|work=Kommersant|date=2018-11-12|access-date=2018-11-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3798493|title=Восточный военный округ возглавил воевавший в Сирии генерал|work=Kommersant|date=13 November 2018|access-date=13 November 2018}} he was presented to the leadership at the district headquarters in Khabarovsk.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-11-13|title=Командующим войсками Восточного военного округа назначен генерал-лейтенант Геннадий Жидко|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12203819@egNews|access-date=2018-11-13|website=|publisher=Ministry of Defense of Russia}}{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20181113/1532656553.html|title=В Хабаровске представили нового командующего ВВО|publisher=RIA Novosti|date=2018-11-13|access-date=2018-11-13}} On 11 June 2020, Zhidko was promoted to colonel general.{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202006110005|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 11.06.2020 № 383 "О присвоении воинских званий высших офицеров, специальных званий высшего начальствующего состава и высшего специального звания"|publisher=Publication.pravo.gov.ru|date=2020-06-11|access-date=2020-06-12}}

On 12 November 2021, Zhidko was appointed head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces (GVPU), a position included among the deputy ministers of defence. Zhidko replaced Andrey Kartapolov, who had retired from the army.{{Cite news |last=Baranets |first=Viktor |date=15 November 2021 |title=Герой войны в Сирии стал главным политруком армии |trans-title=Hero of the war in Syria became the chief political officer of the army. |url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/28356/4504271/ |access-date=3 June 2022 |work=Komsomolskaya Pravda |language=ru}}{{cite web |title=В Восточном военном округе сменился командующий |trans-title=The commander of the Eastern Military District has changed. |url=http://www.debri-dv.ru/article/29453/v_vostochnom_voennom_okruge_smenilsya_komanduyushchiy |access-date=16 November 2021}} On 28 July 2022, Colonel General Viktor Goremykin replaced him as head of the GVPU.{{Cite web |title=Russian President appoints Goremykin as Deputy Minister of Defense |url=https://apa.az/en/cis-countries/russian-president-appoints-goremykin-as-deputy-minister-of-defense-381795 |access-date=2022-07-31 |publisher=Azerbaijani Press Agency}}

=2022 invasion of Ukraine=

On 26 May 2022, the Conflict Intelligence Team, citing Russian soldiers, reported that Zhidko had been put in charge of Russian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, replacing Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov.{{Cite tweet|number=1529780946509209603|user=CITeam_en|title=Also reportedly, Russia's command in the battle for Donbas has undergone another shakeup — the overall commander is now said to be Colonel General Gennady Zhidko. Like Dvornikov, he once commanded operations in Syria and also headed the Eastern Military District.|author=Conflict Intelligence Team}}{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title=General Dvornikov 'no longer in command' of Russian Army in Ukraine |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/general-dvornikov-dismissed-from-command-of-russian-army-in-ukraine-russia-news-russia-invasion-50247453.html |access-date= |work=The New Voice of Ukraine|language=en}} On 22 June 2022, The Guardian reported that during a visit to Ukraine by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, "footage appeared to confirm that the colonel general Gennady Zhidko is now commanding troops in Ukraine".{{Cite web |date=26 June 2022 |title= Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv hit by missile strikes; G7 leaders gather in Germany – live updates |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/jun/26/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-hit-by-missile-strikes-g7-leaders-gather-in-germany-live-updates?page=with:block-62b876a58f0814a0d5d43876&filterKeyEvents=false |access-date=8 October 2022|work=The Guardian|language=en}} Having assumed the position in May, Zhidko was demoted a month later to head of the Eastern Military District, and Sergey Surovikin was publicly announced to have taken the position on October 8.{{Cite news |last1=Ilyushina |first1=Mary |last2=Abbakumova |first2=Natalia |date=2022-10-07 |title=Kremlin, shifting blame for war failures, axes military commanders |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/07/russia-military-commanders-dismissed-war/ |access-date=2022-10-10}}

Zhidko was included under US sanctions in July 2022.{{cite web |date=15 March 2022 |title=США ввели санкции против жены Лукашенко и восьмерых заместителей Шойгу |trans-title=The US has imposed sanctions on Lukashenko's wife and eight of Shoigu's deputies. |url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/15/03/2022/62309ed49a7947f94a3ef4d4 |access-date=31 July 2022 |publisher=RBK Group}} He was also later sanctioned by Canada under the Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) for Grave Breach of International Peace and Security{{cite web |title=Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58) |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2014-58/page-4.html#docCont |access-date=24 June 2023}} and by the UK government on 15 March 2022, both in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |title=CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150217/Russia.pdf |access-date=16 April 2023}}

Death

Zhidko died in Moscow on 16 August 2023, at the age of 57.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2023 |title=Умер бывший командующий Восточным военным округом Геннадий Жидко |language=ru |trans-title=Former commander of the Eastern Military District Gennady Zhidko died |work=RIA Novosti |url=https://ria.ru/20230816/zhidko-1890416277.html}}{{cite news |title=Russia's Former Top Commander in Ukraine Dies |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/08/17/russias-former-top-commander-in-ukraine-dies-a82165 |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=The Moscow Times |date=17 August 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Bennetts |first1=Marc |title=Russian commander dismissed over war failings dies 'of illness' in Moscow |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/russian-commander-dismissed-over-war-failings-dies-of-illness-in-moscow-ztwrbp5mj |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=The Times |date=17 August 2023 |language=en}}