Vladimir Sobachenkov
Vladimir Sobachenkov (Russian: Владимир Собаченков) is a retired Soviet KGB officer who served as a bodyguard of Leonid Brezhnev.
On 23 March 1982, a platform with people collapsed above Brezhnev and his entourage at a factory near Tashkent. Sobachenkov was standing next to Brezhnev and managed to protect him from a direct hit. Brezhnev suffered a concussion and a broken clavicle, whereas part of the skin was removed from Sobachenkov's head. He was hospitalized, but rejoined Brezhnev's security team in an hour.[1]
It was Sobachenkov and Vladimir Medvedev who found Brezhnev dead in his bed in the morning of 10 November 1982.[2][3] After Brezhnev's death, his security team was disbanded. Sobachenkov was offered a low-profile position, but refused and retired from the KGB.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Medvedev, 167–168
- ^ Кремль-9. "Мой друг Леонид Ильич...". 1tv.ru
- ^ Medvedev, 177
- ^ Medvedev, 183
Bibliography[edit]
- Medvedev, Vladimir (1994). Человек за спиной. Russlit. ISBN 5865080520.