Chief of East group of forces of Russian army Rustam Muradov appointed commander of Eastern Military District

Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov has been appointed commander of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, head of Russia’s Dagestan Sergey Melikov says on his Telegram channel. 

“Our [Dagestani] compatriot, Hero of Russia Rustam Muradov is now heading the Eastern Military District — one of the heaviest loads when it comes to the combat order of the country’s military districts. I consider this decision to be a good one,” Melikov declared.

He added that the military education and combat experience that Muradov had got in Chechnya and Syria would help him to “brilliantly handle the military tasks”. 

The Kommersant newspaper, citing the service for analysis of Russian legal entities Rusprofile, notes that Muradov was appointed head of the strategic command of the Eastern Military District on 5 October. 

BBC Russian Service previously reported that Muradov had been awarded two Orders of Courage. Until 2009, Muradov served in Chechnya and commanded the 17th Motor Rifle Brigade in Chechnya’s town of Shali, he was then transferred to serve in the Zabaykalsky region. From 2018, he was deputy commander of the Southern Military District. From November 2020 to September 2021, he commanded the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

After the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the European Union introduced personal sanctions against Muradov. In July, it was reported that he was the commander of the East group of forces.