MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU) Igor Korobov had passed away aged 63 after a serious illness.

"The leadership of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inform with great sadness that on 21 November 2018, after a serious and long illness, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich passed away at the age of 63," the defense ministry said.

"The memory of a wonderful person, a true son of Russia, a patriot of the Fatherland Colonel General Korobob Igor Valentinovich will forever remain in our hearts. We express condolences to his family and friends," the ministry said adding that he was awarded with the Hero of the Russian Federation highest honorary title for his service as the head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

Igor Korobov was born on 3 November 1956. He started serving in the military in 1973. He graduated from the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation Schoold of Pilots and Navigators of the Air Defense Forces, Military Academy of the Soviet Army and Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Korobov worked in military intelligence since 1985 and occupied different positions in the Main Directorate. He spoke several foreign languages. Over the years of his military service, Korobov received many awards and medals.

In 2016 he was appointed by a presidential decree as the head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.