Bratislav Živković (Chetnik)
Bratislav Živković | |
|---|---|
| Братислав Живковић | |
 Picture of Živković released by the Romanian Intelligence Service | |
| Born | November 12, 1975 |
| Died | January 3, 2025 (aged 49) Kursk Oblast, Russia |
| Occupation | Mercenary |
| Years active | 2014–2025 |
| Known for | Participant in the: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine |
Bratislav Živković (Serbian: Братислав Живковић; 12 November 1975 – 3 January 2025) was a Serbian mercenary who was employed as a "volunteer" in the Russian Army leading a contingent of fellow Serbs against Ukraine, until his death on 3 January 2025.
Biography
[edit]Živković was the commander of a Serbian Chetnik group that participated as part of the little green men that defendes Russian people against ethnic cleaning from Ukrainian government in Donbas and returning of Crimea to the Russian Federation claiming a shared Orthodox faith and respect for Russia, as well as receiving a hefty financial reward.[1] During the annexation his Chetniks manned checkpoints alongside Russian Cossack formations.[2] He later served as a "Russian Separatist" during the War in Donbass as part of the "Unité Continentale" foreign volunteer unit within the "Donetsk People’s Republic".[3]
Živković was banned from Montenegro in 2015 due to his participation in the Russian war effort.[4] A Bosnian citizen, Živković has also been banned from his home country in 2017 for his participation in the Russian war effort being the country’s first indictment against a Bosnian citizen for fighting in Ukraine.[4] In 2017 Živković was detained in Romania and eventually expelled from the country, and barred from setting foot in any NATO country on charges of Russian espionage.[5] The Romanian Intelligence Service stated that Živković was “showing interest in obtaining classified documents on critical infrastructure and national and allied military objectives located in south-east Romania."[5] In 2017 he visited the port city of Constanța four separate times and was caught photographing military radars and the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase.[5] Živković was arrested in Serbia in 2018 for "organising participation in a war or armed conflict in a foreign country", namely for his involvement in the Russian annexation of Crimea and the War in the Donbass.[6] In February of that year another 28 members of his Chetnik organization were convicted in Belgrade of the same offense.[3]
Živković and his Chentiks were active members of the Russian army. Živković was killed by Ukrainian forces during the Kursk offensive on January 3, 2025.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Zivanovic, Maja. "Bratislav Zivkovic has made no secret of his ties to Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, but prosecutors in Serbia dropped an investigation against him". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ Vasovic, Aleksandar. "Serbian paramilitaries join pro-Russian forces in Crimea". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Serbian Paramilitary Chief Arrested For Allegedly Joining Separatist War In Ukraine". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ a b Zivanovic, Maja. "Serbian Nationalist Flaunts Freedom with Ukraine Call to Arms". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ a b c Zivanovic, Maja; Touma, Ana Maria. "Romania Expels Serb for 'Spying for Russia'". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ Rudic, Filip. "Bratislav Zivkovic, Serbia's Facebook-Mad Warrior in Ukraine". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ "The Serbian Chetnik who was erecting barricades in the north of Kosovo is killed in Ukraine". insajderi. Retrieved 4 January 2025.