Vladislav Achalov

Vladislav Achalov (Russian:Владисла́в Алексе́евич Ача́лов) (19 November 1945 – 23 June 2011) was a Soviet general who at one time commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces.

Achalov graduated from the Kazan Tank School of Red Army in 1966. He started his career in the army as a commander of a platoon of tanks, and later he became the commander of a company of tanks. In 1973 he graduated from the Academy of Armoured Forces but transferred to the Airborne Forces in 1974, becoming commander of an artillery regiment. In 1975–1977 he was a commander of an airborne regiment and later (1977–1978) vice-commander of 98th Guards Airborne Division. From 1978 to 1982 he was commander of the 7th Guards Airborne Division. In February 1981 he visited Warsaw and in September he participated in "Zapad-81" training exercise.