Last commander of the Petrograd Military District, who ordered troops to fire on crowds and then lost control of the garrison
On February 26, Khabalov cordoned off the city centre and ordered rifle fire on the crowds; the next day the Volynsky Regiment refused and the entire garrison rose in mutiny.
A career officer of Ossetian origin, Khabalov graduated from the Mikhailovskoye Artillery School and Nikolayev Academy of General Staff and served in the Russo-Turkish War. After heading the Moscow and Pavlovsk military schools, he was appointed commander of the Petrograd Military District in 1916, but during the February Revolution he carried out Nicholas II's order to disperse demonstrators by rifle fire and then completely lost control of the garrison. Arrested and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, he was released after the October Revolution and later lived in poverty in southern Russia, dying in Essentuki in 1929.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1878Graduated Mikhailovskoye Artillery School; fought in Russo-Turkish War
- 1886Graduated Nikolayev General Staff Academy; staff posts in Imperial Guards
- 1903–1905Head of Moscow Military School
- 1905–1914Head of Pavlovsk Military School
- 1914–1916Military governor of Ural Oblast and ataman of Ural Cossack Host
- 1916–1917.02Commander, Petrograd Military District
- 1917.02Ordered to suppress demonstrations; lost control of garrison; arrested
- 1917.10–1929Released; lived in southern Russia; died in Essentuki
Related historical events
The attempt to suppress the February Revolution and the garrison’s revolt
As strikes and demonstrations spread through Petrograd in February 1917, district commander Khabalov deployed troops to control bridges and main streets and guard government institutions. On February 25 (March 10, New Style), Nicholas II telegraphed him demanding decisive action to suppress the unrest. The next day troops fired live ammunition at demonstrators. At Znamenskaya Square in particular, soldiers of the Volynsky Regiment opened fire, causing deaths and injuries.
But the soldiers’ obedience was breaking down. On February 27 (March 12, New Style), the Volynsky Regiment’s training unit mutinied, and the revolt spread to other units, whose soldiers joined the workers. Khabalov reported that most units had refused orders or gone over to the insurgents, while stating that he would continue resistance with the remaining loyal troops. On the 28th he withdrew his forces from the Admiralty building. The suppression carried out under his command caused casualties, but he failed to control the capital’s garrison and could not prevent the collapse of imperial authority.