Zhansen Kereev is the first and only career Kazakh officer to be awarded the rank of lieutenant general in Soviet times.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the square near the train station to honor the famous resident of Aktobe region. It was attended by veterans of the Armed Forces, the Afghan war, and relatives of the military leader.

- Lieutenant General Zhansen Kereev remained a patriot until the end of his life. Of the 52 years of his life, 33 of them were spent away from his homeland. He served in the Transbaikalia Military District, Hungary, Germany, and Vietnam, and died in April 1983. But wherever Zhansen Kereev served, he always remembered the Kazakh steppe with love and supported his compatriots, - said Kazhymukan Satenov, chairman of the regional branch of the "Veterans of the Armed Forces".

Zhansen Kereev was born in 1930 in the village of Irgyz, Aktobe region. After graduation, he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army in the Kuril Islands. Later, he graduated from the Blagoveshchensk Infantry School, the Frunze Military Academy, the Military Academy of the General Staff, and the Higher Academic Courses of the General Staff Academy.

From 1953 to 1956, he commanded a platoon near Chita. He served in Germany, in the Leningrad Military District, commanded the 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Division in the GDR, and was Chief of Staff of the 3rd General Army of the Group of Soviet Troops in Germany. From 1979 to 1982, he served as Chief of Staff of the Volga Military District.

In January 1982, he was assigned to Vietnam as Senior Advisor to the General Staff of the Vietnamese People's Army and First Deputy Head of the Military Council of the Ministry of National Defense.

- Uncle Jansen was an honest and courageous man, a true patriot of his country. I remember that we celebrated his birthday together in 1980. But, unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I am grateful to everyone who came to honor him today, despite the holidays. This is very important for our family, - said the general's nephew Amangeldy Zholanov.

The event was a vivid demonstration of respect for the outstanding military leader, whose life path was an example of courage, loyal service and true patriotism.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mod/press/news/details/912811