Russian media suggests that the Russian air force commander General Aleksandr Zelin will retire soon. He has been in that position since 2007.

The media is referring to unspecified sources of information in the Russian ministry of defense. Certain date for retirement is not specified either. General Zelin is nearly sixty years old, so he can get his retirement basing on that consideration.

The defense ministry’s department dealing with appointments and qualifications are looking into the issue, according to the undisclosed sources in the ministry. Anonymous sources suggest General Igor Sadofiev, currently deputy Air force commander, as the most possible candidate to fill the expected vacancy. Zelin is believed to be accepting a high ranking position in the Russian defense industrial complex after his retirement from the military service.

Rumors about “pending” retirement of the air force commander circulated in 2009. That time Zelin’s negative attitude to the Kremlin’s view of the anti-ballistic missile defense was pictured as the reason for the expected retirement.