Mikhail Motsak

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Mikhail Vasilyevich Motsak (Russian: Михаил Васильевич Моцак; 22 November 1949 – 19 October 2019) was a high-ranking career officer of the Soviet and Russian Navies. Born in Moscow, Motsak grew up in Sevastopol, attending the P. S. Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School and starting his naval career as an engineer in the Pacific Fleet. Rising through the ranks to more senior positions, he served on submarines in various roles, transferring to the Northern Fleet and his own submarine commands in 1982. Commended for his performance, Motsak graduated to various staff positions in the fleet, was promoted to rear-admiral in 1993 and became commander 1st Submarine Flotilla in 1993. In 1994 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. In May 1999 Motsak was appointed Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander of the Northern Fleet. Part of his duties included organising the fleet's exercises for summer 2000, the first in a decade. During the exercises the submarine Kursk suffered a series of catastrophic explosions and sank. Motsak was deeply involved in rescue attempts to reach the stricken submarine before officials learned that the entire crew of 118 had died. He commanded the salvage operation the following year. Motsak was among the fleet's officers to be criticised in the subsequent investigation into the disaster. He was demoted and forced to resign. He became deputy to the Presidential Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District for a time. Later he worked in the private sector with marine engineering companies. Over his career he had received several awards in addition to the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, including the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" Fourth Class, the Order of Honour and the Order "For Personal Courage". He died in 2019 and was buried in the Serafimovskoe Cemetery...