Vladimir Viktorovich Sakharov (; 20 May 1853 – 1920) was a Russian general of the cavalry who served in the Russian Imperial Army. In an army career lasting from 1869 to 1917, he served in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War I.
Biography
Early life
Sakharov was a descendant of the nobility of the Moscow Governorate and was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1869 he graduated from the Second Moscow Cadet Corps.
Military career
Sakharov entered the Imperial Russian Army on 10 August 1869. He graduated from the 1st Military Pavlovsk School in 1871 and was promoted to podporuchik (ensign) on 11 August 1871. He was seconded to the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment and became Warrant Officer of the Guard on 17 August 1872. He was promoted to second lieutenant on 6 December 1874 and to lieutenant on 30 August 1876. In 1878 he graduated from the Nikolayev Academy of the General Staff in the first category. He was promoted from headquarters captain of the Guard to captain of the General Staff on 6 January 1878 and was seconded to the Cavalry Training Squadron.
Sakharov took part on the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. On 25 April 1878 he became senior adjutant to the headquarters of the 16th Infantry Division. On 23 December 1879 he became assistant senior adjutant of the headquarters of the army.
On 31 January 1879, Sakharov took up duties as the clerk of the educational section of the Riga Infantry Junker School. On 4 November 1880 he became assistant class inspector of the 2nd Military Konstantinovsky School, and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 12 April 1881. On 23 October 1881 he again was seconded to the Cavalry Training Squadron. On 30 June 1882 he began duty as director of affairs in the educational section of the Officer Cavalry School and received a promotion to colonel on 8 April 1884. On 4 April 1886 he began duty as the head of the Elisavetgrad Cavalry Cadet School.
On 6 January 1891, Sakharov became chief of staff of the 14th Cavalry Division and on 18 March 1891 he took up duties as chief of staff of the Kronstadt Fortress. He served as commanding officer of the 38th Dragoon Vladimir Regiment from 24 May 1893 to 12 November 1897. He was promoted to major general on 12 November 1897 and appointed to the post of chief of staff of the 5th Army Corps. On 30 June 1899 he became chief of staff of the Separate Corps of the Border Guard.
Sakharov served in China in 1900–1901 during the Boxer Rebellion and its aftermath. He was commander of the forces in northern Manchuria from 30 June 1900 to 4 September 1900. For military distinction he was awarded the Golden Weapon for Bravery on 18 August 1901. He was promoted to lieutenant general “for military distinction” on 31 January 1901, and from 16 February to 7 May 1901 was the head of the Zaamur District of the Border Guard. On 7 May 1901 he became commanding officer of the 4th Cavalry Division. On 29 November 1903 he took command of the 1st Siberian Army Corps.
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War began on 8 February 1904 while Sakharov was in command of the 1st Siberian Army Corps, but it did not see combat before he relinquished command in April 1904. On 5 April 1904, he became had of the field headquarters of the 1st Manchurian Army, participating in the Battle of Shaho in October 1904. On 18 October 1904, he became chief of staff to the commander-in-chief of all land and naval forces operating against Japan, General Aleksey Kuropatkin. He performed those duties until 17 March 1905, and was awarded the Golden Weapon for Bravery with Diamonds on 26 November 1904. He served as a member of the Alexander Committee on the Wounded from 17 March 1905 to 3 January 1906, becoming temporary commander of the 17th Army Corps on 24 September 1905 in the immediate aftermath of the war while continuing to serve on the committee.
Between the wars
From 3 January to 21 April 1906, Sakharov was at the service of the commander-in-chief of all land and naval forces in the Far East. On 21 April 1906 he was seconded to the Stavka (General Staff). He took command of the 7th Army Corps on 11 October 1906 and was promoted to general of the cavalry on 13 April 1908. On 4 November 1911 he returned to duty on the Alexander Committee. While remaining on the committee, he simultaneously became the commander of the 11th Army Corps on 13 December 1913.