Oleg Senkov

Commander of the 7th Military Base of Russian Federation in Abkhazia

General Biographical Information 

• In 1995-2000 Senkov studied at one of the oldest military schools in Russia – Omsk Combined Arms Command School.
• In 2008, Vice Colonel Senkov attended command faculty at Combined Arms Academy of armed forces.
• He has been given a title of Colonel.

Military career

• In 2000, Senkov served as Platoon Commander at the 205th separate motorized infantry brigade, in Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Krai. The brigade falls under the 49th combined arms division of the Southern Military District. He was twice, for 6 months, dispatched to the Republic of Chechnya. Later he became Company Commander. Afterwards he served at the Guard 70th motorized infantry regiment under the Southern Military District composition, dislocated in Shali, Republic of Chechnya.
• In November, 2012, ceremony dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Soviet Armies counter-attack at Stalingrad was held in Volgograd, where, in the rank of Vice Colonel, Senkov also participated.
• On May 9, 2013, in Volgograd, military parade dedicated to the 68th anniversary of the victory in “Great Patriotic War“was held. The parade was led by Colonel Senkov, deputy commander of the Guard 20th separate motorized infantry brigade (dislocated in Volgograd).
• On November 4, 2018, final round of “Friendship-2018“ - third Pakistan-Russia joint tactical exercises was held at the military polygon base of counter-terrorism national center, in Pakistan. Exercises started on October 22. More than 200 servicemen from the Special Forces of Pakistani Armed Forces and motorised infantry brigade of the Southern Military District participated in exercises. Colonel Senkov, commander of the 34th separate mountain motorized infantry brigade, dislocated in Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, was evaluating activities of the fighting groups. More than 70 servicemen of motorized infantry brigade participated in exercises from Russian side.
• In Summer of 2021 Senkov left his position of commander of the 7th military base. He was replaced by colonel Vadim Klimenko.

Relation with Abkhazia

• In spring of 2019, Senkov was appointed as Acting Commander of the 7th military base, and later – as Commander. On the position of the Base Commander Senkov substituted Igor Egorov, who was occupying position from 2017.
• On June 28, 2019, in the conference hall of the “Moscow House“, Sokhumi, round table was held dedicated to the 25th anniversary of recognition the independence of Abkhazia. Along with up to 30 participants, including Raul Khajimba, de facto president of Abkhazia, Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma, Senkov also participated in the event.
• On February 21, 2020, Senkov met with de facto Defence Minister of Abkhazia Merab Kishamria. During the meeting the parties congratulated each other on the coming "Defender of the Fatherland Day" (February 23) and expressed readiness for joint events.
• On April 21, 2020, Valery Bganba, de facto Acting President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia met with representatives of the Russian “embassy“ and the 7th military base in Abkhazia. According to de facto government press service, technical assistance by the Russian side during the sanitary measures was discussed at the meeting. From Russian side the meeting was attended by Senkov as well.
• On June 17, 2020, de facto president of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania met with the Russian representatives in Abkhazia, including Senkov, Russian „ambassador“ to Abkhazia Aleksey Dvinianin, Head of the Border Division of the Federal Security Service of Russian Federation in Abkhazia Major General Aleksey Trubetski, the „embassy“ employees – Aleksandr Oparin and Vladislav Nechiporenko, representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia Stanislav Apsava. From Abkhazian side the meeting was attended by the Head of de facto Presidential Administration Alkhas Kvitsinia. Various aspects of bilateral cooperation were discussed  at the meeting.
• On September 13, 2020, the 7th military base hosted cultural and leisure events dedicated to the 74th anniversary of the formation of the Tank Forces. The ceremony was attended by more than 1000 people, including military personnel and their families. Senkov addressed the audience.
• On September 20, 2020, new tactical exercises Kavkaz-2020 officially started at the 7th military base. The flags of the exercise participants were solemnly raised at the Tsebelda military training ground. The de facto president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, Senkov, as well as representatives of the de facto law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia participated in the ceremony.
• On September 24, 2020, Aslan Bzhania, the President of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, attended the Kavkaz 2020 military exercises at the 7th military base. He was accompanied by Senkov  and other members of the armed forces. The military servicemen of the Southern Military District, together with the servicemen of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Security Service of the de facto republic of Abkhazia, have completed the first phase of the Kavkaz 2020 exercises.
• On September 29, 2020, the Prime Minister of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Aleksander Ankvab, met with Senkov and the Advisor to the “Embassy” of the Russian Federation, Vladislav Nechiporenko. Senkov and Nechiporenko congratulated  Ankvab on the "Independence Day" of the de facto republic of Abkhazia. Issues of military cooperation between Abkhazia and the Russian Federation were also discussed during the meeting. On the same day, Senkov and Nechiporenko met with the de facto president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania.
• On November 12, 2020, at the 7th military base of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia, Russian specialists of RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) protection were awarded departmental medals of the de facto Ministry of Defense. The ceremony was attended by Senkov and others. RCB protection specialists were awarded medals for successful disinfection of Abkhazia's social infrastructure. 
• Russian servicemen of the 7th military base of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia celebrated the Day of Peacekeepers. As the Commander of the 7th military base,  Senkov, noted "the Russian peacekeepers played one of the most important roles in establishing peace in the Republic of Abkhazia, providing significant support to the young state, taking effective and operational measures in time to prevent the resumption of hostilities.” This day has been celebrated since November 25, 2016 and is dedicated to the participation of a group of Soviet officers in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Middle East on November 25, 1973.