Vladimir Zhoga

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Artyomovich and the family name is Zhoga.
Vladimir Zhoga
DPR Armed Forces
Years of service2014–2022
RankColonel
Commands held Sparta Battalion
Battles/wars
Awards
Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic
Hero of the Russian Federation

Vladimir Artyomovich Zhoga

pro-Russian separatist force that is involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War
.

He was killed on 5 March 2022 during battle in the eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha.[3]

Biography

Born in

technical school.[4] He graduated from the Slavic Vocational Art Lyceum as a painter-plasterer.[6]

Zhoga described himself as apolitical until the

breakaway states located in the Donbas.[9] Zhoga was a close confidant and the personal driver of the Sparta Battalion's commander Arsen Pavlov[5][7][2] as well as the eventual deputy head of the unit,[1] while his father Artem rose to chief of staff.[7] The Sparta Battalion fought in many important battles of the early part of the war in Donbas,[10] and Zhoga served with the unit during the Siege of Sloviansk, the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport,[11][5][6] and the Battle of Ilovaisk.[6] He was wounded in combat at Sloviansk, Snizhne,[5] and Donetsk Airport.[4]

Following Pavlov's assassination in October 2016,

prisoners of war.[8] He was eventually promoted to colonel.[13] In June 2018, Zhoga had a motorcycle accident; he was injured and his passenger was killed.[14] The Ukrainian news site Glavcom alleged that the accident had been an assassination attempt by a Russian soldier (codenamed "Ermine") who acted as advisor to the Sparta Battalion. The two had reportedly clashed on several occasions, as "Ermine" argued that Zhoga was too young to serve as militia leader.[15] In contrast, Fashik Donetsky, an anti-separatist blogger from Donetsk, claimed that Zhoga had been drunk during the incident.[16]

At one point after the start of the

Ukrainian Army.[8] Zhoga was killed on 5 March 2022[7] in combat with the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Battle of Volnovakha in the 2022 invasion.[17] A pro-Russian source said he died while trying to evacuate civilians.[11] Pro-Ukrainian sources dismissed this claim as a lie spread by the DPR leadership.[14][18] Journalist Nicholas Potter argued that the portrayal of Zhoga as a victim was "cynical", considering that the Sparta Battalion was the aggressor in the battle.[8]

DPR leader

Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic,[11][19] while Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.[20] Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent and propagandist Alexander Kots wrote a "glowing obituary" for Zhoga which was characterized by Al Jazeera as part of Russian propaganda efforts.[17] Vladimir's father Artem succeeded him as commander of the Sparta Battalion.[7][11]

See also

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. ^
    Ukrayinska Pravda
    . 5 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Attack on Kyiv remains stalled, but other cities are suffering under Russian occupation". nwprogressive.org/. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Воха из "Спарты": преемник Моторолы". svpressa.ru (in Russian). 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d ""Воха" продолжит деятельность Моторолы". novynarnia.com (in Russian). 28 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Преемник Моторолы до АТО работал маляром и мечтал устроиться водителем". KP (in Russian). 26 October 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f ""Спарту" возглавил Артем Жога — отец убитого нацистами Героя ДНР". EADaily (in Russian). Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e Potter, Nicholas (29 March 2022). "Donezker Rebellen im Kampf gegen Kyjiw". Belltower (in German). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  9. ^ Galeotti 2019, pp. 21, 23.
  10. ^ a b Galeotti 2019, p. 23.
  11. ^ a b c d e 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.
  12. ^ Galeotti 2019, pp. 23–24.
  13. ^ a b 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.
  14. ^ a b "Під Волновахою ліквідований Воха – наступник Мотороли в батальйоні "Спарта"". novynarnia.com (in Russian). 5 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Преемника "Моторолы" заказал российский куратор (аудиодоказательства)". glavcom.ua (in Russian). 25 July 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  16. ^ "В "Спарте" зреет крупный бунт: дни преемника Моторолы боевика Вохи сочтены - источник". dialog.ua (in Ukrainian). 10 August 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Controlling the narrative: Russia tightens grip on media amid war". al Jazeera. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  18. ^ Орлова, Віолетта (5 March 2022). "ЗСУ ліквідували наступника "Мотороли"". УНІАН (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Ukrainian Forces have Killed the Commander of the Sparta Battalion - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. ^ "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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