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Revision as of 15:59, 11 March 2022

Vladimir Zhoga
Zhoga in 2016
Native name
Владимир Артёмович Жога
Birth nameVladimir Artemovich Zhoga
Nickname(s)"Vokha"
Born(1993-05-26)26 May 1993
Sloviansk, Ukraine
Died5 March 2022(2022-03-05) (aged 28)
Volnovakha, Ukraine
Allegiance Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)
Service/branchDPR Armed Forces
Years of service2014–2022
RankColonel
Commands heldSparta Battalion
Battles/wars
AwardsHero of the Donetsk People's Republic
Hero of the Russian Federation

Vladimir Artemovich Zhoga[1] (Russian: Владимир Артёмович Жога, Ukrainian: Володимир Артемович Жога; 26 May 1993 – 5 March 2022), also known by his nom de guerre Vokha (Russian: Воха),[2] was the commander of the Sparta Battalion, a pro-Russian separatist force that is involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Biography

Born in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on 26 May 1993,[3] Zhoga was still living in his birth town by the Russo-Ukrainian War's outbreak.[1][4] In 2014, Zhoga and his father Artem Zhoga[4] joined the Sparta Battalion, one of several pro-Russian separatist militias which emerged during the War in Donbas. The Sparta Battalion is regarded as one of the most effective separatist militias, and has been described as being associated with Neo-Nazism in regards to ideology.[5][6] The militia is loyal to the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), one of the self-proclaimed breakaway states located in the Donbas.[7] Zhoga was a close confidant and the personal driver of the Sparta Battalion's commander Arsen Pavlov[4][2] as well as the eventual deputy head of the unit,[1] while his father Artem rose to chief of staff.[4] The Sparta Battalion fought in many important battles of the early War in Donbas,[8] and Zhoga served with the unit during the Siege of Sloviansk and the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport.[3]

Following Pavlov's assassination in October 2016,[9] Vladimir Zhoga assumed command of the Sparta Battalion[2] which had grown to 1,000 militants by this point.[8] As the militia's leader, he became one of the best known separatist leaders in Ukraine, and was described as a warlord by various newspapers.[5][3][6] As part of the Sparta Battalion, Zhoga was accused of war crimes including the murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war.[3][6] According to audio clips shared by the Kyiv Post, Zhoga once stated "I shot 15 prisoners dead. I don't give a f**k. No comment. I kill if I want to. I don't if I don't."[3] He was eventually promoted to Colonel.[5][6]

Zhoga was killed on 5 March 2022[4] in combat with the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Battle of Volnovakha in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[10] Pro-Russian sources claimed that he died while trying to evacuate civilians.[3]

DPR leader Denis Pushilin posthumously awarded him with the title Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic,[3][11] while Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.[5][12] Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent Alexander Kots wrote a "glowing obituary" for Zhoga which was characterized by al Jazeera as part of Russian propaganda efforts.[10] Vladimir's father Artem succeeded him as commander of Sparta Battalion.[4][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Separatist known as Vokha will become new commander of the Sparta Battalion". UA Wire. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Leader of so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" killed in action near Volnovakha". Ukrayinska Pravda. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Meenal Chathli (7 March 2022). "Who was Vladimir Zhoga? Russian 'neo-Nazi' warlord known for his brutality killed in Ukraine". meaww.com. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "«Спарту» возглавил Артем Жога — отец убитого нацистами Героя ДНР". EADaily (in Russian). Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Milo Boyd (7 March 2022). "Russian warlord who led Neo-Nazi 'Sparta' battalion shot dead as Ukrainians hold town". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Michael Herold (7 March 2022). "Er wird als russischer Held gefeiert: Neonazi-Warlord stirbt offenbar in der Ukraine" [He is celebrated as a Russian hero: Neo-Nazi warlord apparently dies in Ukraine]. Tag24 (in German). Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  7. ^ Galeotti 2019, pp. 21, 23.
  8. ^ a b Galeotti 2019, p. 23.
  9. ^ Galeotti 2019, pp. 23–24.
  10. ^ a b "Controlling the narrative: Russia tightens grip on media amid war". al Jazeera. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Ukrainian Forces have Killed the Commander of the Sparta Battalion - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Путин присвоил звание Героя России посмертно командиру батальону "Спарта" Владимиру Жоге". tass.ru (in Russian). 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

Works cited

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