Cultural dimension of Russian aggression is gradually gaining thorough analysis. Usual focus is put on discrepancy between Kremlin perceptions of reality and reality itself. Russian propaganda approaches towards Ukraine predetermined any Russian “public debates” about war perspectives. Russian propaganda “poisoned” its fathers.
Zakhar Prilepin. Photo: kp.ru
However, Moscow keeps doing what it started. In Ukrainian cities, occupation troops are followed by Russian propagandists. They open “volunteer humanitarian headquarters”, replace road signs, paint steles with city names into Russian tricolor and put “patriotic” posters on billboards. Attempts “to acquire symbolically” occupied territories are observed everywhere: from Mariupol to Kherson. As the situation of Russian troops worsens, Russian propaganda becomes more hysterical.
Zakhar Prilepin (true name is Yevgeny Nikolayevich Prilepin) is among the most prominent figures of Russian propaganda. Many years ago he was emerging talented Russian writer. He wrote about Stalin camps and his popularity was equal to Borys Akunin, renowned Russian author of historical detectives. But later Prilepin evolved into ardent supporter of Russian annexation of Crimea and leadership skills of President Putin. Eduard Limonov, eccentric leader of banned National Bolshevik Party of Russia, was among Russian cultural figures that inspired Prilepin the most. Limonov’s extremist ideology, simultaneous “plays” with Stalin and Hitler symbols attracted many Russian young people in turbulent 1990s.
Photo: Yuzhny federalny
When the archaic nature of Kremlin political regime became evident by the end of 2000s, Prilepin started criticizing Vladimir Putin. He criticized corruption schemes in the oil industry at the meeting with the President of Russia in 2011. As it is known, those schemes were “administered” by Putin’s friends. Participation in public protests made Prilepin a temporary ally of Russian “liberals” like Aleksei Navalny or Dmitrii Bykov. However, Russian military aggression against Ukraine revealed true beliefs of Prilepin.
He supported Russian occupation of Crimean peninsula, changed his attitude towards Putin and moved to occupied Donbas in autumn 2014.
Sincere “DNR” propagandist
Zakhar Prilepin likes to call himself “volunteer”. He pretended to organize humanitarian assistance to “suffering civilians of Donbas” in spring 2014. He did organize assistance to Donbas but it was often non-humanitarian and targeted not civilians but armed pro-Russian separatists.
In September 2014, Prilepin traveled to so-called “DNR” and “LNR”, in order to rescue his comrade from the National Bolshevik Party from the Ukrainian captivity. He met with Russian “volunteers” and started creating the “myth of Donbas” – as the region of “sacrificial working people” who decided to protect their right “to be Russian” with arms in their hands.
Prilepin authored a number of known military novels and stories in the middle of the 2000s. His military experience in the Chechen War laid their background. He uses literary skills in his propaganda. For example, description of emptied provincial towns, uncultivated fields and abandoned dogs was used by him in his propaganda reportages about “heroic lives of Novorossia warriors”. His energy and talents were appreciated by Russian occupation authorities – he was appointed as an advisor to the “head of DNR” in December 2015. But, in fact, he performed the role of an official biographer of Oleksandr Zakharchenko, then “head of DNR”.
When the archaic nature of Kremlin political regime became evident by the end of 2000s, Prilepin started criticizing Vladimir Putin. He criticized corruption schemes in the oil industry at the meeting with the President of Russia in 2011. As it is known, those schemes were “administered” by Putin’s friends. Participation in public protests made Prilepin a temporary ally of Russian “liberals” like Aleksei Navalny or Dmitrii Bykov. However, Russian military aggression against Ukraine revealed true beliefs of Prilepin.
He supported Russian occupation of Crimean peninsula, changed his attitude towards Putin and moved to occupied Donbas in autumn 2014.
Sincere “DNR” propagandist
Zakhar Prilepin likes to call himself “volunteer”. He pretended to organize humanitarian assistance to “suffering civilians of Donbas” in spring 2014. He did organize assistance to Donbas but it was often non-humanitarian and targeted not civilians but armed pro-Russian separatists.
In September 2014, Prilepin traveled to so-called “DNR” and “LNR”, in order to rescue his comrade from the National Bolshevik Party from the Ukrainian captivity. He met with Russian “volunteers” and started creating the “myth of Donbas” – as the region of “sacrificial working people” who decided to protect their right “to be Russian” with arms in their hands.
Prilepin authored a number of known military novels and stories in the middle of the 2000s. His military experience in the Chechen War laid their background. He uses literary skills in his propaganda. For example, description of emptied provincial towns, uncultivated fields and abandoned dogs was used by him in his propaganda reportages about “heroic lives of Novorossia warriors”. His energy and talents were appreciated by Russian occupation authorities – he was appointed as an advisor to the “head of DNR” in December 2015. But, in fact, he performed the role of an official biographer of Oleksandr Zakharchenko, then “head of DNR”.
Zakharchenko and Prilepin presented a collection of journalist materials about war in Moscow and Donetsk in June 2016. Soon after Zakharchenko was killed, Prilepin published autobiographic novel about Donbas “Some will not get into inferno”. Mostly narcissist, the novel also explores “specific Russian mission of Donbas”. What is Prilepin doing in the novel? Together with Zakharchenko, he visits restaurants and baths.
Zakhar Prilepin and Oleksandr Zakharchenko at presentation of collection of journalists materials about war in Donbas. 16.06.2010. Photo: rg.ru
In 2021, Prilepin makes a movie “I will come back. Word about Zakharchenko”. He mentioned the mission of his movie: Russia must remember and honor its heroes “who are ready to sacrifice their lives for their Russian-ness”. Kremlin supervisors define who will be heroes whereas people like Prilepin write heroic epic about them.
When making politics in Russia is easy…
Oleksandr Zakharchenko was killed on August 31, 2018. After his death Prilepin came back to Russia. He set up civic movement “For Truth” and political party with the same name. He became a member of central headquarters of pro-Putin “non-governmental organization” “All-Russian People’s Front” on December 3, 2018. One of its statutory goals was “to control implementation of orders of the President of Russia”…
Political party “For Truth” signed an agreement about cooperation with “Patriots of Russia” of Gennadii Semigin and “A Just Russia” of Sergei Mironov. Leaders of electoral union “A Just Russia – For Truth” were elected to the Russian State Duma of the VIII convocation but Prilepin almost immediately left the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.
Prilepin has a number of other senior level contacts within Russian authorities. His older sister – Elena Prilepina –married with the cousin of Vladislav Surkov, ex-assistant of President Putin and ex-supervisor of territories of Georgia and Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. Dump of Surkov’s e-mail hacked by activists contains his communication with Prilepin about future book about Zakharchenko.
Another high level contact of Prilepin is so-called “Orthodox oligarch” Konstantin Malofeev. In 2019 he publicly supported and then joined political party “A Just Russia”. He was reported to be the main beneficiary of electoral union “A Just Russia – For Truth”.
Malofeev employed Prilepin at his TV channel “Tsargrad”. In 2016-2017, the channel broadcast program “Tea with Zakhar” – Prilepin’s discussions with guests. Composition of Prilepin’s guestbook tells a lot about the program: Prokhanov, Russian public figure supporting the Russian Empire, Oleksandr Zakharchenko and his colleague Borodai, Malofeev, Zhyrinovsky, Zuganov, leader of Russian post-Soviet communists, metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov), personal priest of Vladimir Putin, Serbian lover of Russian culture, musician Emir Kusturica.
Konstantin Malofeev. Photo: Wiki/Lous Whinston
Three battalions of Zakhar Prilepin
Another dimension of Prilepin’s activity is his role of recruiter for “DNR army”. As he said, upon request of Zakharchenko, he started “recruiting volunteers” for separate military unit of “DNR” in 2016. In fact, since the start of Russian aggression, Russian mercenaries were recruited by Prilepin-Limonov’s National Bolshevik Party. The party created so-called volunteer movement “Inter-brigades”. It recruits “radical activists” from Russia and foreign countries. According to Prilepin, his battalion enlisted two thousand “volunteers” as of January 2015 (social media accounts of “Inter-brigades” indicate other data: 1,5 thousand people in 2014-2015). Volunteer movement “Inter-brigades” announced its renewal of “military and humanitarian assistance to Novorossia” in May 2022. Though, Prilepin lost an interest in the movement by that time.
“Inter-brigades 2022” transfer military assistance to “DNR”. Photo: YouТube
Russian and foreign Nazi participated in the Russian war against Ukraine since its beginning in 2014. Today they are part of so-called “Pyatnashka”, “15 international brigade”. They post video with their soldiers and reports about received assistance on their Youtube channel. The Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled the basis of “Pyatnashka” on August 22, 2022. It should be noted that exact location of the basis was identified by OSINT-investigation of Ukrainian journalists from BIHUS.info.
Youtube channel of “Inter-brigades” also covers other “volunteer units”. For example, its reportages highlighted an activity of Task Force Surricats trying to fight Ukrainian drones or “coalition of authors of patriotic telegram channels” (OPSB). Besides raising funds for separatists, this coalition is involved into military propaganda and information psychological operations under the guidance of Russian special services. “Volunteers” from the coalition widely disseminated in Ukrainian telegram channels panic reports about “marks” on roofs in Kyiv which Russian troops were going to use for bombing the city.
But let us come back to Prilepin. The only military unit he recognized as his own in 2016 was so-called “the 4th reconnaissance assault battalion for special purposes of DNR”. Prilepin was proud that this unit was often called “Prilepin’s battalion”. He served there as “deputy battalion commander on the work with personnel”. Later he publicly admitted he was responsible for the state of affairs within battalion as he personally managed the unit.
The State Security Service of Ukraine launched criminal investigation into Prilepin’s activity as “battalion commander”, in accordance with part 1 of article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (participation in the terrorist organization) and part 1 of article 258-5 of the Code (financing terrorism).
The real commander of the battalion has been Sergei Fomchenkov (“Fomich”), born in Russian Smolensk and a member of the National Bolshevik Party. He was an active participant of pro-Russian events in Sevastopol in 1999. Ukrainian court sentenced him to imprisonment. After the death of Zakharchenko, “volunteers” of Prilepin’s battalion were encircled at their basis in “Prague” hotel by “people’s militia of DNR”, and Fomchenkov was detained. As Russian bloggers wrote, it was how “battalion was re-subordinated to militia of DNR”.
Sergei Fomchenkov “Fomich”, date of birth – 08.12.1973. Photo: vk.com
Sergei Fomchenkov “Fomich” and members of his “battalion”
Since October 2020 Fomchenkov headed “Guard of Zakhar Prilepin”. He created his own battalion “Russian Legion” in May 2022 (B.A.R.S.-13). His soldiers were so ineffective in fighting Izum offensive of Ukrainian troops that Fomchenkov started recruiting new volunteers in Rostov on October 1, 2022. Though, previous recruitment campaign was conducted less than a month ago. Fomchenkov’s soldiers are killed quickly or there are not enough volunteers?
The third military unit somehow connected to Zakhar Prilepin is the 3rd company “Oplot ZP”. It is part of so-called “the 60th motorized rifle battalion “Veterans”.
Battalion “Veterans” was born out of several pro-Russian “Oplot” units. His early history is explained by Sergei Zavdoveev, call sign “Frenchman”, deputy commander and co-founder of “Veterans”.
Sergei Zavdoveev, “Frenchman” (date of birth 01.08.1982) tells a history of his unit “Veterans. Oplot ZP”. He has a chevron with Putin. Photo: YouТube
This Donetsk resident defended the building of Donetsk Oblast State Administration seized by separatists of Zakharchenko’s personal guard. Later he became a member of so-called battalion “Oplot” under the command of Zakharchenko. Prilepin used this legacy of Zakharchenko and founded his own organization “Oplot” in 2020 under the umbrella of his movement “For Truth”. This “Oplot” laid the foundation of the 3rd company of “Oplot ZP”.
Network of Prilepin’s headquarters and “humanitarian assistance”
Prilepin created “Charitable Fund of Zakhar Prilepin” in 2017. In accordance with its Statute, the organization should have assisted “suffering people of some districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts”. Its real activity focused on assistance of a different kind.
The main page of Fund’s website posts information about fund raising for children’s houses, pensioners, veterans of “the Great Patriotic War” and people with disabilities. Russian singer Yulia Chicherina, colleague of Prilepin, posts video calling to provide pupils of Donbas with necessary equipment.
The Fund’s headquarters are located in Rostov-na-Donu. The main volunteer” and media “talking head” is Yuri Mezinov, deputy head of local office “A Just Russia – For Truth”. He was appointed a head of Prilepin’s headquarters in Luhansk in May 2022.
Yuri Mezinov (date of birth 17.01.1982). Head of Prilepin’s headquarters in Luhansk (to the left). Photo: vk.com
Party “A Just Russia – For Truth” and movement “For Truth” held a press conference in Rostov on February 24, 2022 about “prospects of volunteer movement”. Mezinov called Ukrainian military to surrender. As he said, we had to live side by side and resistance of the Ukrainian army would worsen situation.
Video from August 28 shows Mezinov travelling from Kherson to Izum. He is titled “general of humanitarian troops”. He is proud of successes of the Russian army and evaluates the crop of sunflower. We see him in Svatovo, Severodonetsk, Novoaidar and earlier – in Izum and other towns and villages.
Mezinov’s accounts in social media demonstrate that Prilepin’s Fund is busy with fund raising only for military purposes. Aid for civilians is raised by other organizations. For example, there is charitable foundation “Kind Angel” registered by Mezinov’s wife – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Mezinova. There is another initiative somehow connected with Prilepin’s Fund. It is volunteer center “Engaged” headed by Aleksandr Sarvilina, resident of Simferopol.
Offces of Prilepin’s Fund are scattered around occupied territories of Ukraine. Above mentioned Zavdeev (“Frenchman”) and Roman Khrenov, the head of movement “For Truth”, were appointed co-heads of Kherson office on May 22, 2022.
Head of movement “For Truth” Roman Khrenov in Kherson, 08.05.2022. Photo: zapravdu.org
They seize local office of the Ministry of Finances of Ukraine and video tape how they replace Ukrainian flag with a flag of “For Truth” movement. Another Prilepin’s office was opened in Izum on the 22nd of June. It is headed by Milan Shelest, member of party “A Just Russia – For Truth”.
Milan Shelest with “Veterans”. 12.09.2022 Photo: vk.com
Aleksandr Kishynets and Aleksandr Yabdokimenko, soldiers of the 60th battalion “Veterans”, were appointed as his deputies.
Aleksandr Kishynets transfers assistance to battalion “Veterans” in Izum, 07.09.2022 (to the left). Photo: vk.com
These photos and videos demonstrate that the main goal of Prilepin’s Fund is not about humanitarian aid.
Opening ceremony of Prilepin’s office in Izum, Kharkiv oblast. June 22, 2022.Prilepin is in the center, Milan Shelest – to the left. Photo: russian.rt.com
“For Truth” movement announced recruitment of “volunteers for the work on liberated territories of Russian Southern West” (!) on April 23, 2022. Prilepin is looking for personnel of law enforcement bodies, state administrations, teachers, doctors, priests, soldiers. He is looking for everybody. He does not talk about “civil war in Ukraine” or “Novorossia” anymore. He talks about recruitment of Russians for their relocation to recently occupied territories of Ukraine and appointment in “local” authorities. It is classical colonialist practice when local residents of occupied territories are replaced with citizens of the occupant.
