He was later the deputy commander of the Russian Armed Forces Operational Group in Syria as of 2023.

In 2010, Kolesnikov was a lieutenant colonel and serving as chief of staff of the 4th Guards Tank Division.

[1] He was promoted to the rank of major-general and appointed, in December 2021, the former[3][4] commander of the 29th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District in the Zabaykalsky Krai.

[7] However, the Ukrainian claim had not been verified by Western media and Russian sources had not confirmed his death.

[9] As of March 2023 Kolesnikov was deputy commander of Russian forces in Syria.