Yevgeny Yuryev

Yevgeny Yuryev
Native name
Евгений Леонидович Юрьев
Born28 March 1951
Novorossiysk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died25 April 2020(2020-04-25) (aged 69)
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Service / branchAir Defence Forces
Years of service1968–2006
RankLieutenant general
Commands5th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
AwardsOrder "For Merit to the Fatherland", Fourth Class
Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR",
Third Class
Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, Third Class
Order of Saint Righteous Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, Third Class
Order of Saint Seraphim of Sarov [ru], Third Class

Yevgeny Leonidovich Yuryev (Russian: Евгений Леонидович Юрьев; 28 March 1951 – 25 April 2020) was a Russian officer in the Soviet and Russian Air Defence Forces. Over his military career Yuryev served in various positions, commanding brigades, divisions, corps, and finally the 5th Air and Air Defence Forces Army, before retiring in 2006 with the rank of lieutenant general.

Born in Novorossiysk in 1951, Yuryev embarked on a career in the Soviet Armed Forces in 1968, attending the Engels Anti-Aircraft Missile School, and on graduation, was assigned to the Siberian Military District for service with an anti-aircraft missile division. He rose through the ranks and posts over the following years, and after studies at the Military Command Academy of Air Defence, had staff and command positions across the Soviet Union, in the Odessa, Leningrad, Transcaucasian and North Caucasus Military Districts, as well as abroad in Leipzig as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Yuryev continued to serve in the military, and graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia in 1994. Service as a division commander in the Far Eastern Military District followed, and in 2001 he became commander of the 5th Air and Air Defence Forces Army. Yuryev served as the Army's commander until retiring in 2006 with the rank of lieutenant general.

In retirement Yuryev worked for the automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ, and was also president of the "M. T. Kalashnikov Military-Sport Union". He had a career in local politics, sitting as a deputy in the Samara Provincial Duma [ru] as a representative of United Russia. Over his career Yuryev had received several government awards, and those of the Russian Orthodox Church.