Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko

Who was Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko?

Oleksandr Dmytrovych or Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko, was a Russian/Ukrainian gunner and specialist in rocketry, Lieutenant General.

In 1797, Zasyadko graduated from the Artillery and Engineering School in Saint Petersburg. In 1799, he participated in the Italian campaign of the Russian army under the command of Aleksandr Suvorov, Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 and Patriotic War of 1812.

In 1815, Zasyadko began his work on creating military gunpowder rockets. He constructed rocket-launching platforms, which allowed to fire in salvos, and gun-laying devices. Zasyadko elaborated a tactics for military use of rocket weaponry. In 1820, Zasyadko was appointed head of the Petersburg Armory, Okhtensky Powder Factory, pyrotechnic laboratory and the first Higher Artillery School in Russia. In 1827, Zasyadko was in charge of Artillery Headquarters of the Russian army and took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829. He organized rocket production in a special rocket workshop and created the first rocket sub-unit in the Russian army.