A caricature of Kerensky and general Kornilov by Kukryniksy. Lavr Georgiyevich Kornilov (1870  13 April 1918) was a Russian general during World War I and the ensuing Russian Civil War. He is today best remembered for the Kornilov Affair, an unsuccessful endeavour in August/September 1917 that was intended to strengthen Alexander Kerensky's Provisional Government, but which led to Kerensky eventually having Kornilov arrested and charged with attempting a coup d'etat.