Mikhail Teplinsky
Михаил Теплинский
🇷🇺 RussiaActive
Role
Commander of Russian Airborne Forces (VDV)
Rank
Colonel General
War Period
2022 – present
Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky commands Russia's elite Airborne Forces (VDV). He gained a reputation as one of Russia's more competent tactical commanders during the war, leading VDV units during the Kherson defensive operations and the battle for Avdiivka. He was reportedly dismissed and reinstated (2023) amid tensions in the Russian military command structure following the Wagner Group mutiny, and was named commander of the Central Military District before returning to VDV command.
Key Operations
- —Kherson Oblast defensive operations (2022)
- —Avdiivka offensive (2023–2024)
- —Kursk Oblast response operations (August 2024)
Notable
Teplinsky is considered one of Russia's most capable battlefield generals, praised internally for maintaining unit cohesion. His VDV troops bore some of the heaviest losses of the war due to their frontline assault roles.
Other Russia Commanders
Vladimir Putin
ActiveSupreme Commander-in-Chief
Valery Gerasimov
ActiveChief of the General Staff / Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Sergei Surovikin
DismissedFormer Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin
KIAWagner Group Founder & Commander
Alexander Dvornikov
DismissedFormer Overall Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Mikhail Mizintsev
ActiveDirector of Russia's National Defense Management Center; commander of Mariupol siege
Rustam Muradov
DismissedFormer Commander of the Eastern Military District
Aleksandr Lapin
DismissedCommander of the Central Military District ("Group Center")
Andrei Mordvichev
ActiveCommander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army; later Commander of "Group South"
Oleg Salyukov
ActiveCommander-in-Chief of Russian Ground Forces
Aleksandr Zhuravlyov
ActiveCommander, Western Military District; Commander, "Group North" (2024)
Sergei Shoigu
ReplacedFormer Minister of Defence of Russia; Secretary of the Security Council
Andrei Belousov
ActiveMinister of Defence of Russia
Yunus-bek Yevkurov
ActiveDeputy Minister of Defence of Russia
Oleg Tsokov
KIADeputy Commander of the Southern Military District
Gennady Anashkin
ActiveCommander of the "Group South" forces
Related Battles & Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mikhail Teplinsky?
Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky commands Russia's elite Airborne Forces (VDV). He gained a reputation as one of Russia's more competent tactical commanders during the war, leading VDV units during the Kherson defensive operations and the battle for Avdiivka. He was reportedly dismissed and reinstated (2023) amid tensions in the Russian military command structure following the Wagner Group mutiny, and was named commander of the Central Military District before returning to VDV command.
What is Mikhail Teplinsky's role in the Ukraine war?
Mikhail Teplinsky (Colonel General) served as Commander of Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) on the Russia side. Service period: 2022 – present. Current status: Active.
What key operations was Mikhail Teplinsky involved in?
Kherson Oblast defensive operations (2022). Avdiivka offensive (2023–2024). Kursk Oblast response operations (August 2024).
What is notable about Mikhail Teplinsky in the context of the Ukraine war?
Teplinsky is considered one of Russia's most capable battlefield generals, praised internally for maintaining unit cohesion. His VDV troops bore some of the heaviest losses of the war due to their frontline assault roles.
Is Mikhail Teplinsky still active in the Ukraine war?
Yes, Mikhail Teplinsky is currently active as of the latest available data (period: 2022 – present).