The biographies of the key figures in the Russia-militant forces tell much about the nature of the conflict. There are three main categories of these persons worth highlighting: first, individuals, who came directly from Russia or are locals, but have strong ties with the Russian government, who are well trained military, intelligence or administrative professionals, having proficient organizational skills. Second, locals, who come mostly from impoverished or often criminal backgrounds, who lack much expertise or real training in either administration or the military. The second group constitutes useful support for the first group, because they create an impression of active involvement of the local population, and because they can be controlled by the first group, and used to carry out violence, while on paper not being responsible to any one above. The third important group are supporters of radical and extremist ideologies, such as neo-Nazism or Stalinism, most of whom come from Russia, but also include some locals.

THE KEY FIGURES OF THE RUSSIA-BACKED MILITANT FORCES

Name Igor Girkin (Strelkov)

Positions March 2014: assistant concerning security, defence and law enforcement to the “prime minister” of the Crimean Autonomous Republic Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov12 May - 4 August 2014: commander of the “Armed Forces of the DPR”16 May -14 August 2014: “minister of defense” of the “DPR”6 July - 14 August 2014: “military commandant” of Donetsk.

Born 17 December 1970, Moscow, Russia

Citizenship Russian Federation

About In 1993 finished the History-Archival Institute in Moscow. Has a strong interest in military history and passionately participates in military reconstructions. Active supporter of ultra-nationalism. In summer 1992 fought as a volunteer in the Transnistrian war. From November 1992 to March 1993 fought in Bosnia. Bosnian authorities suspect him of having participated in the Visegrad massacre, where 3000 persons were murdered. In his own diary, Girkin confirmed, that he fought for General Ratko Mladic, who is now tried by the Hague tribunal for war crimes. Fought in both Chechen wars in 1995 and in 1999-2005. From 1993 served in the Russian army, according to himself, for 18 years in total. For a long time worked in the radical stalinist-nationalist newspaper “Zavtra”, run by A. Prokhanov. Until March 31, 2013 served as an officer in the FSB, according to his own testimony. According to Ukrainian authorities, he is still an active colonel of the FSB. Went to Crimea in spring 2014, and assisted the separatist leader Aksyonov. After a short trip back to Russia, on April 12, 2014 went to Slovyansk in the East of Ukraine, where he conducted the takeover of the government buildings, and officially became the commander of the Russia-backed combatants in this town. On May 11, 2014 Girkin issued a decree, in which he declared himself the head of the army of the “Donetsk Peopless Republis” (DPR), and addressed the Russian government asking to protect the population of the “DPR”, if needed, by sending in Russian troops. He commanded the Russia-backed militant forces in Slovyanks, until their retreat on July 5, 2014 to Donetsk. He is the key suspect in the Boeing MH17 tragedy, since he was in charge of the troops operating the BUK systems, which shot down the aircraft, and had published a message, where he boasted by his men having shot down a plane in the exact location and exact time where the Boeing had crashed. On August 14, 2014 he suddenly resigned, and left Ukraine.1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Name Alexandr Boroday

Positions 16 May - 7 August 2014: chairman of the “council of ministers” of the “DPR”8 August - 20 October 2014: chief advisor and first vice-chairman of the “council of ministers” of the “DPR”

Born 25 July 1972, Moscow, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout As a member of an armed group, took part in the events in Moscow in 1993

on the side of the pro-communist Supreme Council against Yeltsin’s government. In 1994 earned an undergraduate diploma in philosophy at Moscow State University, later earned an MA degree in social philosophy. Worked as a reporter on the Chechen war for several news agencies. In 1996, began work at the radical Stalinist-nationalist newspaper “Zavtra” (there he met Igor Girkin). From 1998 worked as a PR consultant for a number of politicians in Russia, organized over ten election campaigns. Worked with Russian elites and businessmen. In 1999 went to Dagestan (near Chechnya) to write reports on local ethnic tensions. In 2001 established and ran a consulting company “Sociomaster”. In 2002 became the vice-director of information policies and special projects of the FSB. During spring 2014 was found in Ukraine, on May 16, 2014 became the “chairman of the council of ministers” of the “DPR”. On May 17, 2014 declared, that the “DPR” leadership is preparing an address to the Russian government asking for the territories to join the Russian Federation, and for Russia to establish military bases there. Boroday claimed that he took part in the events in Crimea, and that the same team worked both in Crimea and the Donbass. On August 7, 2014 resigned from his position.6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Name Marat Bashirov

Positions 4 July - 20 August 2014: “chairman of the council of ministers” of the “LPR”

Born 20 January 1964, Izhevsk, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout In 1986 graduated from the Izhevsk Mechanical Institute as an engineer. In

2008 studied at the Government Academy of National Economy. In 2012 earned an MBA diploma at the Moscow State University. In 1987 began work in the Izhevsk police force. In 1991 was a deputy of the council of the Oktyabr area, and later vice chairman of the said council. From 1994 was the deputy of the chairman of the committee of international affairs at the Council of Federation of Russia. From the late 1990’s worked upon numerous different positions in the higher government circles, as well as in business and communication. On July 4, 2014, Valeriy Bolotov appointed him the chairman of the “council of ministers” of the “LPR”. He resigned on August 20, 2014. During his “term” in the “LPR”, he became notorious for organizing the expropriation and extortion of local businesses and property.11, 12, 13, 14

Name Igor Bezler

Positions Spring - November 2014: commander of the “People’s Militia of the Donbass” in Horlivka

Born 30 December 1965, Simferopol, UkraineCitizenship Russian FederationAbout Bezler participated in the war in Afghanistan. In 1994-1997 finished the

Dzerzhinsky Military Academy in Moscow. After leaving the military went to Ukraine. In Horlivka worked as a security administrator at a factory, then worked at a funeral centre until 2012, where he was accused of theft of fences and tombstones and extortion of money for burial plots. Then he worked in a private security agency. Was the head of a veteran organization of airborne troops in the same town. In March 2014 went to Crimea, then returned to Horlivka. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), he is a GRU (Russian intelligence) agent. Bezler commanded the takeover of several government buildings in Donetsk and Horlivka. According to the SBU, Bezler was responsible for the death of local council deputy V. Rybak, who was tortured and found dead in a river, and for the kidnapping of OSCE observers. On July 1, 2014 it was reported that Bezler and his units were in conflict with other “DPR” forces and that a clash between them occurred. Later the “DPR” leadership denied this information. On September 15, 2014, he was made “major-general of the DPR army”. According to Girkin, Bezler resigned on November 1, 2014 and went to Crimea.15, 16, 17, 18

Name Vladimir Antyufeev

Positions 10 July - 23 September 2014: “first vice-prime minister” of the “DPR”

Born 19 February 1951, Novosibirk, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout In 1971-1973 served in the Soviet army. In 1974 finished the Minsk Spe-

cial Police School. In 1999 finished the Russian Academy of State Service. From 1973 until 1991 served in various high positions in the police force of Riga. In 1991 the Latvian public prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case against him, as a suspect in complicity in murder, when his units opened fire at a bus, killing the driver and wounding a passenger. In 1991 he moved to Transnistria, where he became the minister of state security. In 1997 he was arrested in Moscow in a hotel, to be deported to Latvia, but was instead re-leased. In 1999 ran for the Duma (Russian Parliament) elections in Russia. In 2003 wrote an MA dissertation in Moscow. In 2004 the Moldova government opened a criminal case against him for abuse of authority. The same year was declared persona non grata by the EU. In 2012 the Transnistrian leadership opened a criminal case against him for “abuse of authority”. Antyufeyev ap-peared in the Donbass, Ukraine, in 2014, and was appointed “first vice-prime minister” of the “DPR” on July 10, 2014 and was dismissed on September 23, 2014 same year.19, 20, 21, 22

Name Igor Plotnitsky

Positions April - May 2014: commander of the “Zarya” battalion21 May - 14 August 2014: “minister of defense” of the “LPR”20 August - 26 August 2014: “chairman of the council of ministers” of the “LPR”4 November 2014 - present: “head” of the “LPR”

Born 26 June 1964, Luhansk, UkraineCitizenship UkraineAbout From 1982 to 1991 served in the Soviet Army in Penza, Russia, receiving

the rank of major. In 1987 finished the Penza Artillery college. In the 1990s owned and worked in private trade businesses. In 2004 began state service in Luhansk, where he worked in the field of quality control of goods. In 2008 finished a degree in “State administration” at the Vladimir Dahl University in Luhansk. Whilst in government service, extorted bribes and actively racketed and extorted money from small businesses. In 2014 actively participated in the armed conflict, immediately, in April, became the first commander of the “Zarya” battalion and in May became the “minister of defense” of the “LPR”. Evidence suggests, that he was responsible for a major missile attack and defeat of Ukrainian units at Zelenopolie on July 11, 2014. On November 19, 2014 called out President Poroshenko to a duel. Plotnitsky is in continuous conflict with other “LPR”-Russia-backed militant leaders, including the “Cossack National Guard” leader Pavel Dryomov, and the “Batman” battalion, the members whereof accuse him of killing their leader Alexandr Bendov in January 2015.23, 24, 25, 26

Name Nikolay Kozitsyn

Positions 1993 - present: head of the “Union of Cossacks of the Don Region Forces”1993 - present: commander of the “Greatest-of-all Don Forces” 17 September 2014 - present: commander of the “Cossack National Guard”

Born 20 June 1956, Dzerzhinsk, UkraineCitizenship Russian FederationAbout In 1978 finished the Kharkov police college. For 6 years thereafter worked

as a prison guard, and in 1985 was dismissed for numerous crimes and malfeasances in office. Since 1990 is actively involved in organizing the Cossack movement. In 1992 participated in the Transnistria war. In 1993 fought in the war in Georgia on the side of Abkhazia. In 1994 becomes the 4th ataman (leader) of the Cossack Forces. Participated in the Yugoslav war, where he personally communicated with Milosevic. On May 3, 2014, Kozitsyn with some of his armed troops crossed the Ukrainian border, and captured the town of Antratsyt. In the Luhansk region, his armed group was comprised of about 4000 men, and managed to capture a number of towns including Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Krasniy Luch and others. There he established the “Cossack National Guard”, with himself as commander. Kozitsyn found himself in a deep conflict with the “LPR”, including Plotnitskiy, and temporarily left Ukraine on November 30, 2014 for Russia. On December 21, 2014 he returned to the Donbass, and in an interview expressed his disagreement with other “LRP”, and claimed that he considers this territory being “part of the Russian Empire” and Putin being “the Emperor”.27, 28, 29

Name Alexey Mozgovoy

Positions April 2014 - 23 May 2015: commander of the “Prizrak” armed group

Born 3 April 1975, Nizhnyaya Duvanka, Ukraine - 23 May 2015, Mikhailovka, Ukraine

Citizenship UkraineAbout Served in the Ukrainian army by contract, then worked at a military enlistment

office in the Svatovsk area. Headed the local cell of the pro-Putin youth organisation “Young Guard” in Luhansk. During the protests in Kyiv, Mozgovoy was in Russia, but as Yanukovich fled, he immediately went to the Donbass, where he took an active part in organizing the Russia-backed militants. On April 10, 2014, he visited Moscow, where he met with prominent Russian Duma members, V. Zhirinovskiy and S. Mironov, and later declared that he secured their support. He then became one of the key military commanders of the Russia-backed combatants, but distanced himself from both the cossacks of Kozitsyn and the Plotnitsky people. At a public meeting on November 3, 2014 he claimed that women “should sit at home and do cross stitching” and ordered that all women seen in cafes and bars be arrested. When someone at the meeting yelled “they all should be raped”, Mozgovoy replied “there is some truth in it”. On May 23, 2015 Mozgovoy was killed - the vehicle he was moving in with his assistants was blown up by a mine near the village of Mikhailovka.30, 31, 32, 33

Name Pavel Dryomov (Batya)

Positions 2014: commandant of the town of StakhanovAn ataman of the “Don Cossack Forces”

Born 22 November 1976, Stakhanov, UkraineCitizenship UnknownAbout Worked as a bricklayer. Was convicted for robbery and rape. According to his

own statement, fought in the Chechen war. During the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, cooperated with Kozitsyn and assisted him in forming cossack units. As he retreated from Severodonetsk, Dryomov became the sole and absolute head in the town of Stakhanov. He is in a deep conflict with the Plotnitsky armed group, with whose people his units continually clash. He is a vehement anti-Semite, refers to Plotnitsky using a very derogatory Russian term for “Jew”, and to the Minsk agreements as “a trick of Jewish oligarchs”. In an interview for Russian agency Spektr, he stated that Russian Armed forces took part in the storming of Debaltsevo, and that they often shelled residential areas34, 35, 36, 37

Name Alexey Pavlov (Leshiy)

Positions Head of the “Smersh LPR” armed groupCommander of the “Leshiy” armed group

Born 1975, Primorsk, UkraineCitizenship UnknownAbout Finished a technical school in Primorsk. In 1993-1995 served in the Ukrainian

army, after which he became an active member of cossack organizations. In 2007 became a cossack “ataman” (leader). After Luhansk was captured by the Russia-backed militants, Pavlov forms the “Smersh LPR” armed group, which kidnapped and tortured the participants of the Euromaidan (pro-Ukrainian) movement in Luhansk. Formed and commands the armed group “Leshiy”. Currently is in conflict with the forces of Plotnitsky.38

Name Alexandr Zakharchenko

Positions May 2014: “commandant” of Donetsk“Vice minister of internal affairs” of the “DPR”May 2014 - present: commander of the “Oplot” battalion7 August 2014 - present: 2nd “chairman” of the “council of ministers” of the “DPR”4 November 2014 - present: “head” of the “DPR”“Commander in Chief” of the “DPR Armed Forces”

Born 26 June 1976, Donetsk, UkraineCitizenship UkraineAbout Finished the Donetsk Technical School of Industrial Mechanics. Worked at

a coal mine as an electrician, until he began digging illegal pits at the coal mine. Sold chickens working for company “Havrilovski Kurchata”. For some time attended the Donetsk Police Law School, but never finished it. Served as the leader of the Donetsk cell of the pro-Yanukovych organization “Oplot”, which was known for supplying the so called “titushki” (street thugs hired by the government at the time to incite violence, stage provocations and attack demonstrators) during the Euromaidan protests. On April 16, 2014 Zakharchenko organized and took part in the armed takeover of the Donetsk city hall, from where he then declared his demand for a referendum in the region. Since May he became one of the top commanders of the Russia-backed combatants, and took active role in the military action. After the November 2 “elections” became the “head” of the “DPR”.39, 40, 41

Name Alexandr Khodakovskiy

Positions May 2014 - present: commander of the “Vostok” battalion16 May 2014 - 16 July 2014: “minister of security” of the “DPR”Present: “secretary of the security council” of the “DPR”Head of the organization “Patriotic Forces of the Donbass”

Born 18 December 1972, place of birth unknownCitizenship UkraineAbout Commanded the Alpha special unit of the Security Service of Ukraine until

March 2014. In February 2014 was in Kyiv and took part in the violent government attempts to put down the Euromaidan protests. Later, out of the former members of the Alpha and Berkut units, as well as some mercenaries from the Caucasus region, Russia, Khodakovski organized his “Vostok” armed group. He was in conflict with the forces of Igor Girkin, and with Alexandr Boroday. On July 8, 2014, gave an interview to Reuters, in which he stated that the Russia-backed militants were in the possession of a BUK missile system. The interview was published on July 23, 2014. The MH17 Boeing was shot down by a BUK system on July 17, 2014.42, 43, 44, 45

Name Arseniy Pavlov (Motorola)

Positions Commander of the “Sparta” battalion

Born 2 February 1983, Ukhta, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout According to his own statements, he lost his parents, when he was 15.

Served for 4 years and 7 months in the Russian army and participated in military operations in Chechnya. In Russia, worked as a car washer. In 2012 was convicted for stealing a vehicle from his workplace. On March 16, 2014 took part in the pro-Russian protests in Kharkiv. First served as a commander under Girkin, but later formed his own battalion “Sparta”. The armed group he commanded played a key role in the battles at Slovyansk, Ilovaysk and the Donetsk airport. Was found to be a bigamist: he has a wife in Russia, but also married another woman in the Donbass. On April 6, 2015, in an interview to the Kyiv Post, he confessed that he had killed 15 Ukrainian prisoners. An observer from Amnesty International reported that at least five witnesses saw that Pavlov shot in the head a Ukrainian POW, Igor Branovitsky, who was captured defending the Donetsk airport, and was violently beaten by other Russia-backed militants.46, 47, 48, 49

Name Alexey Milchakov (Fritz, Serb)

Positions Commander of the “Rusich” battalion

Born 1991, St. Petersburg, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout Was a big follower of neo-Nazism in St. Petersburg. Owned firearms, and

in 2009 was charged with opening fire in public place. Milchakov is also a notorious sadist: in 2011, he published a video where he killed a puppy with a knife, whom he thereafter ate. Served in the Russian army in Pskov, and in summer 2014 was found fighting in the Donbass, where he formed the “Rusich” battalion, consisting mainly of his neo-Nazi ideological comrades. Was known for extreme brutality, posted pictures of himself posing in front of mutilated bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, and carved out Slavic swastikas on the faces of the corpses. He is in conflict with the forces of Plotnitsky.50, 51

Name Mikhail Tolstykh (Givi)

Positions Commander of the “Somali” battalion

Born 19 July 1980, Ilovaisk, UkraineCitizenship UkraineAbout In 1998-2000 served in the Ukrainian army. Later, worked as a rope access

technician and as a forklift truck operator at a factory. Took part in the battles at Slovyansk, Ilovaysk and the Donetsk airport. He is known for grave mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs, as in January, a video was posted, where he is seen beating a group of prisoners, who had their hands tied and stood on their knees. He also threatened them with a saber and a knife, and forced them to swallow the insignia from their uniforms, which he cut off, and pushed into their mouths. According to locals, he is notorious for encouraging plunder and rape amongst his troops.52, 53, 54

Name Alexandr Bednov (Batman)

Positions Commander of the “Batman” armed group“Chief of Staff” of the 4th brigade of “LPR”14 August - 27 August: “minister of defense” of the “LPR”

Born 29 August 1969, place of birth unknown - 1 January 2015Citizenship UkraineAbout In the late 1980’s fought in Georgia, Abkhazia and Armenia. Worked in the

local police force in Luhansk, then as a security person at a night club. Took part in the takeover of government buildings in Luhansk in spring 2014. First he served under Mozgovoy, but later formed his own battalion “Batman”. Played an important role in organizing the Russia-backed militant forces of the “LPR”. He planned to take part in the “elections” on November 2, 2014 but the Plotnitsky people prevented him from doing so. Bednov’s group was attacked with heavy fire, as they arrived to submit their documents to the “elections office”. Since then, he was in conflict with some other militant leaders and the “LPR” “leadership”. On January 1, 2015, Bednov was killed, when the convoy of the armed vehicles in which he and some of his troops were moving, was attacked from an ambush by the Plotnitsky forces with machine guns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers.55, 56

Name Serguey Velikorodniy

Positions May 2015 - present: first “vice-minister of defence” of the “DPR”

Born 30 January 1976, Zvyozdniy, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout Participated in Russia’s war against Ukraine since summer 2014. Took part in

the fighting in Slovyansk. Little is known about this figure, apart from the fact that he is wanted by the Russian police on the national level for large-scale fraud. The wanted record appeared on the official Russian police website, but when it was discovered by observers, it was immediately removed (but the screenshots remain).57

Name Alexandr Mozhaev (Babay)

Positions 2014: Cossack fighter

Born 21 September 1977, Belorechensk, RussiaCitizenship Russian FederationAbout In 1995 joined a cossack organization. Served in the Russian army in 1995-

1997 near St. Petersburg. Worked in a storage as a loader workman. Claims, that he served a five year term in prison for distribution of drugs, and that he is currently wanted by the police for an attempted murder. On March 7, 2014 went to Crimea, where he took part in surrounding the Ukrainian army bases. In mid-April went to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, where he took part in the armed takeover of government buildings.58, 59, 60

Name Gennadiy Tsypkalov

Positions 26 August - present: “chairman of the council of ministers” of the “LPR”13 May - 17 May 2014: acting “head” of the “LPR”April - May 2014: first “vice-head” of the “LPR”

Born 21 June 1973, Malchevka-Polnenskaya, Rostov region, RussiaCitizenship unknownAbout In 1988 ended school, finishing 8 grades. In 1991 finished a technical school

in Khryaschevatoye near Luhansk. Served in the army in the airborne forces. In 1994 established a transportation firm, since 1998 worked on a farm, since 2001, the head of the Luhansk communication section of the “Ukrtransneft” oil pipeline company. In 2009 finished a degree at the Dahl East-Ukrainian National University. During Russia’s war against Ukraine became the “Chief of Staff” of the “United South East Army” of the “LPR”. Since August 26, 2014 the “chairman” of the “council of ministers” of the “LPR”.61, 62

Name Valeriy Bolotov

Positions 18 May - 14 August 2014: “head” of the “LPR”6 April 2014 - present: “commander” of the “LPR” “South East Army”.

Born 13 February, 1970, Taganrog, RussiaCitizenship UkraineAbout From 1988 served in the Soviet army in the airborne forces, and participated

in the conflicts in Yerevan and in Karabakh. After release from the army, unsuccessfully attempted to join the police force, and began digging illegal pits at a coal mine. Allegedly, has education in economics and engineering. The chairman of the Union of Veterans of the Airborne Forces in the Luhansk region. Worked in private business, served as the head of a slaughterhouse in Stakhanov. On April 6, 2014 played a key role in the storming of a Security Service of Ukraine building of the Luhansk region, and made a public statement calling on the people to openly resist the Ukrainian government. On April 21, 2014 was “elected” as the “people’s governor” of the Luhansk region. On August 14, 2014 resigned and left for Moscow.63, 64, 65

Name Vasiliy Nikitin

Positions 18 May - 4 July 2014: “prime minister” of the “LPR”4 July 2014 - present: first “vice-chairman” of the “council of ministers” of the “LPR” regarding social policyMay 6 - unknown: head of the press centre of the “United Army of the South East”

Born 25 November 1971, Shargun, UzbekistanCitizenship UkraineAbout In 1989 finished school in Kopeysk, Russia, then moved to the Luhansk region

in Ukraine, where he allegedly finished the Luhansk National Agricultural University in 1994. From 1995 worked in and ran a number of small private businesses. Pretending to be a “leading bacteriologist with a PhD in biology, and a member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine” (which was proven to be false), he organized a fraudulent business selling fertilizers. In March 2014 became a member of the “People’s Referendum” group. Took an active role in the 11 May “referendum” in the Donbass. On April 21, 2014 became the “chairman” of the presidium of “People’s Gathering” of Luhansk. Since May 6, 2014 the head of the press centre of the “United Army of the South East”. 66, 67

Name Denis Pushilin

Positions 15 May - 18 July 2014: “chairman” of the “presidium of the supreme council” of the “DPR”14 November 2014 - present: “vice-chairman” of the “people’s council” of the “DPR”

Born 9 May 1981, Makeevka, UkraineCitizenship UkraineAbout In 1999-2000 served in the Ukrainian National Guard. Studied at the Donbass

National Academy of Construction and Architecture, but did not complete his studies. According to his work resume, between 2000 and 2008, he worked in a number of private businesses, but did not stay over one year in any of them, apart from the company “Sweet Life” where he worked from 2003 to 2005. In 2011-2013 worked at the MMM, an infamous fraudulent investment scheme based on the Ponzi model. On April 5, 2014 became the deputy of the “people’s governor” of Donetsk, and headed a rally in Donetsk the same day. On May 15, 2014 became the “chairman” of the presidium of the “supreme council” of the “DPR”. On June 11, 2014 as he travelled to Moscow, he claimed, that the Russian government needs to send its “peacekeeping” troops to the Donbass. The same day he met with a prominent Russian politician V. Zhirinovksy. At one point Pushilin claimed, that he shares “imperial values”, but not “western values”, and that he will never have any homosexual friends. On July 18, 2014 whilst on a trip in Moscow, he resigned from his position. However, he returned to the Donbass and took part in the “elections” on November 2, 2014 and on November 14, 2014 became “vice-chairman” of the “people’s council” of the “DPR”.68, 69, 70

Name Pavel Gubarev

Positions Founder and commander of “People’s militia of Donbass”Leader of the “Novorossiya” movement1 March - unknown: “people’s governor of Donetsk”

Born 10 March 1983, Severodonetsk, UkraineCitizenship UkraineAbout Finished the Donetsk University with a degree in history. Owned a small

out-of-home advertisement business. In the early 2000’s was a member of a neo-Nazi organization “Russian National Unity” headed by Barkashov, and participated in their events and gatherings in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Worked as a Ded Moroz (Russian version of Santa Claus) in a company organizing children’s parties. In 2006-2007 was a deputy of the council of Kuibyshev area in Donetsk, as a member of a pro-Russian bloc “National Opposition”. On March 1, 2014, became the “people’s governor of Donetsk”, and his supporters took active part in storming the government buildings in the city. On March 3, 2014, declared that a referendum should take place in the Donetsk region. On March 6, 2014 was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine for takeover of government buildings, actions aimed at a violent overthrow of the government, and the infringement of the territorial unity of the country, and the next day he was transferred to the court of Shevchenko area in Kyiv. On May 7, 2014 he and some other separatists were released and exchanged for Ukrainian POWs near Slovyansk. His wife, Yekaterina, was the “minister of foreign affairs” of the “DPR”.71, 72, 73, 74