The Fate of Russian Volunteers in Bosnia

Pravda ^ | October 13, 2003 | Stanislav Varykhanov

[joan]

Commissioner of the Hague International Tribunal Vanessa Le Roa has recently demanded the delivery of the Russian military men who had volunteered to wage war in Bosnia. The judge complained that Russia was not willing to discuss the issue on the international level yet. Vanessa Le Roa affirmed, up to 700 Russian military men were waging war in Yugoslavia ten years ago. Investigators of The Hague Tribunal have allegedly collected enough evidence to prove Russian military men's participation in punitive operations against Muslims and Croatians.

Mikhail Polikarpov - a historian and a participant of the Bosnian war - has written a book about the war. According to the writer, Russian military men volunteered to serve in Bosnia in 1992-1995. Several hundreds of Russian soldiers took part in the Balkan war, about 40 of them were killed, about 20 men were injured. Russian volunteers were waging war in groups of up to ten people. Each of those groups could control up to 30 kilometers of a certain area.

The first Russian military unit of volunteers was formed in Herzegovina in September of 1992 - not far from the town of Visegrad. Valery Vlasenko became the unit's commander. The second unit was formed the same year in November - the unit was known as Tsarist Wolves with commander Alexander Mukharev, nicknamed as the Ace. A company of Cossacks was fighting together with the second unit of Russian volunteers. The Cossack unit was commanded by Alexander Zagrebov, soldier of the Afghan war. Another group of Russian military men was operating in the settlement of Skelani, not far from Visegrad. The group was commanded by Lieutenant Alexander Alexandrov, who had been in the wars of Transdniestr and Karabakh (he was killed in May of 1993).

In the winter of 1993, the group of Russian soldiers commanded by the Ace took part in the most fierce and legendary battle of that time - the defense of the Zaglavak hill. Muslims were attacking the hill with grenade launchers, Russians were suffering considerable losses, but so were Muslims. In March of 1993, Tsarist Wolves had a battle with the group of Muslims - the Russian group was commanded by major Eduard (the major was decorated with Red Star and For Courage medals). In May, the major was substituted with captain Mikhail Trofimov. He was killed as he attempted to take a prisoner for interrogation: there were two Muslim women in the house that he was entering - someone threw a grenade in his back.

Read the original in Russian: http://world.pravda.ru/world/2003/5/14/37/14096_Rusija.html (Translated by: Dmitry Sudakov)

[joan]

In May, the major was substituted with captain Mikhail Trofimov. He was killed as he attempted to take a prisoner for interrogation: there were two Muslim women in the house that he was entering - someone threw a grenade in his back.

Didn't you say this was common in Bosnia - grannies with grenades?

[Support Free Republic]

Let's keep the Dem's on the run!
Click the Pic!

[LenS]

Since the Serbs liked to rape the Croatian and Bosnian Muslim women, it's no wonder the grannies preferred death by grenade.

[FormerLib]

Hey, wanna buy the Brooklyn Bridge?

[archy]

There was a Russian Sniper who was with Vojvoda Aleksic, who had blonde hair with oversized shades on. Those guys had no fear, showed no pity. I am not sure what or where they went after 1995.

There's a recent novel from former Reuters correspondent Fredrick Forsyth entitled The Avenger that might be of interest to you. As with mopst of his novels, Freddy really did his homework on this one, and the aftermath of the Yugoslav breakup is among the settings he describes in detail.

-archy-/-

[joan]

What about Greeks? Do you have personal and confirmed knowledge of any Greeks there? Don't go on rumors, but positive sightings and knowledge.