Vladimir Masorin

Who is Vladimir Masorin?

Admiral of the Fleet Vladimir Vasilyevich Masorin is a retired Russian admiral who commanded the Caspian Flotilla in 1996–2002 and the Black Sea Fleet in 2002-2005. In September 2005, he was appointed the Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy.

The newspaper Kommersant speculated that Admiral Masorin was a temporary appointment until the new Chief of the Main Naval Staff, appointed at the same time, took command of the Navy.

Masorin completed the P.S. Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School in 1970. He served as principal warfare officer on the Kashin class destroyer Smyshleny of the Northern Fleet. In 1977 he completed additional officer training and became Executive Officer of the Kashin class destroyer Ognevoy. In 1980 he became Commanding Officer of the Sovremennyy class destroyer Otchayannyy and in 1983 Masorin became Chief of Staff of the Northern Fleet's destroyer squadron. After completing the N.G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy Masorin was promoted to Commander of the Northern Fleet's destroyer squadron.

Following completion of the General Staff Academy, Masorin was promoted to Commander of the Caspian Flotilla in 1996 and the Black Sea Fleet in 2002. Masorin was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy and to the rank of Fleet Admiral in 2005.