On the picture: on the left — Vladimir Vladislavovich Khrustitskiy, on the right — Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov.
Vladimir was born in 1930 on a significant day which sort of pre-determined his destiny. The day of February 23 on which the Red Army was born, which later became a national holiday — the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy — was also Volodya’s the date of birth. His father was Vladislav Vladislavovich Khrustitskiy, a Hero of the Soviet Union (1902–1944) who deserved this title of honour defending Leningrad.
From 1941 Volodya Khrustitskiy became a pupil of Leningrad’s Kirov oprhanage. For another year from 1944 to 1945 he was the son of the regiment of the 30th tank brigade. It was hard to imagine that a boy with such a destiny would fail to join the army. That is exactly what happened: Vladimir Vladislavovich served his land, his people faithfully and loyally all his life.
Vladimir later became a brilliantly educated officer. He got higher education in the speciality self-propelled artillery and armoured troops at the Academy of the General Staff and at higher academic courses under the said institution.
He began his officer’s career from the position of a platoon commander, then he led a company, later a battalion. Then his career developed rapidly: he served in various districts of the country and in Germany. Then Vladimir Vladislavovich became a divisional commander. Later he became the 1st Deputy Commander of the army and from 1979 for ten years he served as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet. In all positions he proved to be an experienced, professional officer who knew what he was doing very well. He was a career military officer, a real leader on which the modern armed forces hinge.
In 1989 his health let him down, he became an invalid and had to retire.
After leaving the armed forces he represented Ukraine in the commission dividing the Black Sea fleet. He worked as an advisor, contributed to the creation of Ukraine’s Navy. He took part in the world congresses of Ukrainians.
In the early spring of 2007 under the name Varlaam Vladimir Khrustitskiy took monastic vows. He died less than half a year later, on June 20. He was buried in the territory of the Golosiivo Protection of the Mother of God Monastery.
Vladimir Khrustitskiy has many government awards: two orders of the Red Star, order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces, order of the Badge of Honour, over 30 medals.
He was engaged in scientific research, published monographs, articles.
Vladimir Khrustitskiy met Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974 being head of the commission charged with holding trials of his assault rifles.
Vladimir was born in 1930 on a significant day which sort of pre-determined his destiny. The day of February 23 on which the Red Army was born, which later became a national holiday — the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy — was also Volodya’s the date of birth. His father was Vladislav Vladislavovich Khrustitskiy, a Hero of the Soviet Union (1902–1944) who deserved this title of honour defending Leningrad.
From 1941 Volodya Khrustitskiy became a pupil of Leningrad’s Kirov oprhanage. For another year from 1944 to 1945 he was the son of the regiment of the 30th tank brigade. It was hard to imagine that a boy with such a destiny would fail to join the army. That is exactly what happened: Vladimir Vladislavovich served his land, his people faithfully and loyally all his life.
Vladimir later became a brilliantly educated officer. He got higher education in the speciality self-propelled artillery and armoured troops at the Academy of the General Staff and at higher academic courses under the said institution.
He began his officer’s career from the position of a platoon commander, then he led a company, later a battalion. Then his career developed rapidly: he served in various districts of the country and in Germany. Then Vladimir Vladislavovich became a divisional commander. Later he became the 1st Deputy Commander of the army and from 1979 for ten years he served as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet. In all positions he proved to be an experienced, professional officer who knew what he was doing very well. He was a career military officer, a real leader on which the modern armed forces hinge.
In 1989 his health let him down, he became an invalid and had to retire.
After leaving the armed forces he represented Ukraine in the commission dividing the Black Sea fleet. He worked as an advisor, contributed to the creation of Ukraine’s Navy. He took part in the world congresses of Ukrainians.
In the early spring of 2007 under the name Varlaam Vladimir Khrustitskiy took monastic vows. He died less than half a year later, on June 20. He was buried in the territory of the Golosiivo Protection of the Mother of God Monastery.
Vladimir Khrustitskiy has many government awards: two orders of the Red Star, order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces, order of the Badge of Honour, over 30 medals.
He was engaged in scientific research, published monographs, articles.
Vladimir Khrustitskiy met Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974 being head of the commission charged with holding trials of his assault rifles.
