Vladimir Pikalov

Vladimir Karpovich Pikalov
Born(1924-09-15)15 September 1924
Armavir, South-Eastern Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR
Died29 March 2003(2003-03-29) (aged 78)
Moscow, Russia
Buried
Allegiance Soviet Union (19411991)
 Russia (19911992)
Years of service1941–1989
RankColonel General
CommandsChemical Troops of the USSR
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union (1986)

Vladimir Karpovich Pikalov (Russian: Владимир Карпович Пикалов; 15 September 1924 29 March 2003) was a Soviet general. He commanded the Chemical Troops of the USSR from 1968 to 1988.

During World War II, Pikalov took part in the battles of Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk. He was wounded several times.

He was in charge of the specialized military units at the site of the Chernobyl disaster. Pikalov arrived at the scene on the afternoon of 26 April 1986, and assumed command at Chernobyl.