Vyacheslav Borisov

Borisov was born in Ruza, near Moscow, during the rule of the Soviet Union. He graduated from the Sverdlovsk Suvorov Military School. He joined the Soviet Military in 1976, when he graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne College and was commissioned into the airborne forces. A good officer, he rose through the ranks and in 1990 he graduated from the elite M. V. Frunze Military Academy. From 1991-1995, he was commander of the 11th Separate Airborne Brigade in Ulan-Ude, the Transbaikal Military District. Later after promotion to General officer rank, he commanded the 2nd Motor Rifle Division in the Moscow Military District.

In 1998, he graduated from the General Staff Academy and was appointed the commander of the 12th Russian Military Base in Batumi, Georgia's Autonomous Republic of Adjara. In 2003, he became Deputy Commander for Airborne Training. Sometime before 2008, he became commander of the 76th Airborne Division, and he would lead this into war.

As a division commander, his division was sent from its garrison in Pskov to reinforce 58th Army, and took part in the Battle of Tskhinvali. After the successful conclusion of the battle, his force moved further and occupied Gori. He was the commander of Russian military forces during the occupation of Gori.[2] In the absence of civilian government, he was the de facto governor in the region.[4]

On 6 June 2009, Borisov in an interview with Moscow-based radio Ekho Moskvy[5] said that the reason why his division performed well in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War was that "a week before the war they held military exercises exactly there, in those places". In December 2022, the International Criminal Court investigation uncovered Borisov's role in war crimes committed during the hostilities, but no warrant was issued as he had died in November 2021.[3]

General Borisov was married and had two sons. He was also a Christian.[6]

Military medals and ribbons

	Order of Military Merit
	Order of the Red Star
	Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class
	Order of the Badge of Honour
	Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd class Military Division
	Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
	Medal "For Distinction in Military Service" 1st class
	Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
	Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
	Medal "For Military Valour" 1st class
	Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation"
	Medal "For Distinguished Military Service" 1st class
	Medal "For Impeccable Service" 2nd class
	Medal "For Impeccable Service" 3rd class
	Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defence"
	Railway Troops Medal "For Distinction in Service"
	Army General Margelov Medal
	Decoration "For Service in the Caucasus" Gold
	Decoration "Internationalist Warrior" (USSR)
	Order of Bravery (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan)
	Medal "From the grateful Afghan people" (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan)

• Picture of the General in Gori.
• Biography of the General on Federation of American Scientists