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Sergei Shoigu

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Russian Aerospace Forces Hop 4
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Sergei Shoigu
NameSergei Shoigu
CaptionShoigu in 2023
OfficeMinister of Defence of Russia
Term start6 November 2012
PresidentVladimir Putin
PredecessorAnatoly Serdyukov
Office2Governor of Moscow Oblast
Term start211 May 2012
Term end26 November 2012
Predecessor2Boris Gromov
Successor2Andrey Vorobyov
Office3Minister of Emergency Situations
Term start317 April 1991
Term end311 May 2012
Predecessor3Office established
Successor3Vladimir Puchkov
Birth date21 May 1955
Birth placeChadan, Tuva ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
PartyUnited Russia (2001–present)
OtherpartyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (before 1991)
Alma materKrasnoyarsk State Technical University
BranchRussian Armed Forces
Serviceyears1991–present
RankArmy General
BattlesSecond Chechen War, Russo-Georgian War, Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
AwardsHero of the Russian Federation, Order of Merit for the Fatherland, Order of Alexander Nevsky

Sergei Shoigu is a Russian military officer and politician who has served as the Minister of Defence since 2012, appointed by President Vladimir Putin. A long-serving and trusted member of Putin's inner circle, he previously led the Ministry of Emergency Situations for over two decades, building a prominent public image. His tenure at the Defence Ministry has overseen major military operations including the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life and education

Sergei Shoigu was born in Chadan, then part of the Tuva Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian SFSR. His father, Kužuget Shoigu, was a prominent Communist Party official and journalist in the Tuvan ASSR, while his mother was a Russian economist. After completing secondary education, he moved to Krasnoyarsk and graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute (now Krasnoyarsk State Technical University) in 1977 with a degree in civil engineering. He later undertook postgraduate studies in economics in Moscow and began his career in construction projects across Siberia and the Russian Far East.

Civilian career

Shoigu's early professional work was in the construction industry, where he held engineering and managerial positions in various state enterprises in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Sayangorsk. His political career began in 1990 when he was appointed deputy chief of the State Architecture and Construction Committee of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Committee of the CPSU. In 1991, following the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, he was summoned to Moscow by Boris Yeltsin's government and given the task of creating a new rescue body, which became the Russian Rescue Corps.

Minister of Defence

Appointed by President Vladimir Putin in November 2012, succeeding Anatoly Serdyukov, Shoigu's tenure initiated a period of significant military modernization and increased combat readiness for the Russian Armed Forces. He has presided over several major military campaigns, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war beginning in 2015 in support of Bashar al-Assad, and the full-scale 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. His leadership has been central to the execution of Russia's military strategy, though the war in Ukraine has faced significant challenges and drawn international condemnation and sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and NATO.

Political career

Beyond his defense portfolio, Shoigu has been a significant political figure within the United Russia party. He served briefly as Governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012 before his defense appointment. He is a permanent member of the Security Council of Russia and has served on the Supreme Council of United Russia. His long association with Vladimir Putin, dating to the 1990s, and his leadership during national emergencies have cemented his position as a key pillar of the Russian political establishment, often seen as a potential successor in political speculation.

Personal life and public image

Shoigu is married to Irina Shoigu, and they have two daughters, Yuliya Shoigu and Kseniya Shoigu. An avid outdoorsman, he is known for interests in mountaineering, horse riding, and guitar playing. For decades, he cultivated a popular public persona as "Russia's rescuer" during his tenure at the Emergency Ministry, frequently appearing in media during disasters. This image evolved into that of a decisive military leader, though his reputation has been intensely scrutinized internationally since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Awards and honors

Sergei Shoigu has received numerous state awards, most notably the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. His decorations include the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (multiple classes), the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Courage, and the Order of Honour. He has also received various departmental military awards, foreign honors from states including Syria, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, and religious awards from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Russian politicians Category:Government ministers of Russia Category:Governors of Moscow Oblast Category:United Russia politicians Category:Recipients of the Hero of the Russian Federation award