Putin Names Korobov As New Military Intelligence Chief

Lieutenant General Igor Korobov has been appointed as head of the GRU intelligence agency (file photo)

President Vladimir Putin has appointed Lieutenant General Igor Korobov to head the Russian military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, following the death of his predecessor in early January.

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said on February 2 that GRU deputy head Korobov had been promoted by a presidential decree to lead the highly secretive spy agency.

Korobov’s predecessor, Igor Sergun, died on January 3 at the age of 58.

He had held the position since 2011.

Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russia's security services and a professor at New York University, said shortly before the announcement of Korobov’s appointment that Korobov was a favorite to succeed Sergun.

Galeotti described Korobov as the "continuity choice."

The appointment comes amid an upsurge in Russian military activity abroad.