Bratislav Živković (soldier)
Bratislav Živković | |
|---|---|
Živković in 2015 | |
| Native name | Братислав Живковић |
| Born | 12 November 1975 |
| Died | 3 January 2025 (aged 49) Kursk Oblast, Russia |
| Allegiance | Luhansk People's Republic Russia |
| Branch | Russian Army |
| Service years | 2014–2025 |
| Unit | Chetniks |
| Conflicts | |
Bratislav Živković (Serbian: Братислав Живковић; 12 November 1975 – 3 January 2025) was a Serbian volunteer in the Russian Army leading a contingent of fellow Serbs against Ukraine.
Biography
In 2012, Živković was among a group of Serbian nationalists who erected barricades in North Kosovo to prevent Kosovar authorities from reaching Serb municipalities.[1]
Živković was the commander of a Serbian Chetnik group that participated as part of the little green men that invaded and annexed Crimea for Russia claiming a shared Orthodox faith and respect for Russia, as well as receiving a hefty financial reward.[2] During the annexation his Chetniks manned checkpoints alongside Russian Cossack formations.[3] He later served as a "Russian Separatist" during the War in Donbas as part of the "Unité Continentale" foreign volunteer unit within the Luhansk People’s Republic.[4]
In 2015, Živković attempted to smuggle a group of his Chetniks into northern Macedonia to participate in anti-Albanian fighting in Kumanovo but was detained at the border.[1]
Živković was banned from Montenegro in 2015 due to his participation in the Russian war effort.[5] Živković has also been banned from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2017 for his participation in the Russian war effort.[5] 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.[6] 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 with the intention of affecting our strategic partnerships."[6] In 2017 he visited the port city of Constanța four separate times and was caught photographing military radars and the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase.[6] 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 Donbas.[7] In February of that year another 28 members of his Chetnik organization were convicted in Belgrade of the same offense.[4]
Živković and his Chetniks were active participants of the Russo-Ukrainian war. He was seriously injured in the opening phase of the conflict, and was later killed by Ukrainian forces during the Kursk campaign on 3 January 2025. Živković was 49.[8][9][1]
References
- ^ a b c "Who is Bratislav Živković who was killed in Kursk?". thegeopost. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Serbian mercenary Bratislav Živković, who fought against Ukraine since 2014, killed in Kursk region". Espreso TV. Retrieved 8 January 2025.