Valeryan Nikitich Varennikov

Valeryan Nikitich Varennikov was a Soviet military leader and politician, born in 1923. He served as a high-ranking general in the Soviet Army and was involved in significant events like the Soviet-Afghan War. Notably, he responded to the 1991 coup attempt against Soviet President Gorbachev, supporting the military's role during that crisis. After the Soviet Union's collapse, he remained active in politics, advocating for the army and national interests. Varennikov was known for his military expertise and loyalty to the Soviet state, playing a key role in its later history until his death in 2013.