Shaposhnikov

By late 1991, the commander of Soviet armed forces, Marshal Shaposhnikov, was “convinced that the Union in fact no longer existed and that there would be nothing like it in the future . . . no functioning Union structures remained by that time except, perhaps, the USSR President and several ministers, including myself.”

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov, the CIS military commander, said Yeltsin always backed his attempts to keep the Soviet armed forces united.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

By late 1991, the commander of Soviet armed forces, Marshal Shaposhnikov, was “convinced that the Union in fact no longer existed and that there would be nothing like it in the future . . . no functioning Union structures remained by that time except, perhaps, the USSR President and several ministers, including myself.”

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov did not include this incident in the first edition of his memoir, but has repeated it on several occasions.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov, the CIS military commander, said Yeltsin always backed his attempts to keep the Soviet armed forces united.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov pointed out that he would end up in prison with the August putschists, who had tried something similar.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Whether or not Shaposhnikov would have done this, Yazov knew by the third day that high- and mid-level officers were resisting and even disobeying orders.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

After the coup, the moderation and responsibility of Marshal Shaposhnikov, the Soviet defense minister, was important.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov, the Air Force commander, says he considered sending planes to bomb the Kremlin if the conspirators ordered troops to storm the White House.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011

Shaposhnikov did not include this incident in the first edition of his memoir, but has repeated it on several occasions.

The Return Daniel Treisman 2011