Volunteers of InformNapalm volunteer intelligence community have obtained personal data of 22 Russian soldiers and officers who participated in the Russian aggression against Georgia in 2008. They are servicemen of the 42nd Motorized Infantry Division (the old formation until 2009) of the 58th Army of the Russian Armed Forces. At the time of Russian aggression many of them served in the 478th Communications Battalion. Five of them have also been identified as participants of the annexation and occupation of the Ukrainian Crimea in 2014.

The new OSINT-investigation was triggered by the publication of over 100 photos covering the war of 08/08/08 by the former commander of the 478th Communications Battalion, who led his unit in August 2008 in the invasion to Georgia. The photos and their annotiations helped us to identify the commander’s colleagues and subordinates.

1. Alexey Usatov

Date of birth: October 31, 1976. Born in Saratov in a military family. He is married and has two children.

Education: Ulyanovsk Higher Military Engineering Communication School 1993-1998.

Social media accounts: ОК (archived profile https://archive.is/J2k9z, photos https://archive.is/cQcK8, https://archive.is/U6Xzl, http://archive.li/Z96Xp) – access to the profile was restricted, but Usatov inadvertently allowed public access to the photo album; VK (https://archive.is/zHoJB). Other inactive pages: https://archive.is/p5h8L and https://archive.is/DcGpN.

Professional career:

– 1999-2004 – company commander at the 527th Armaments and Communications Equipment Storage Base (military unit 82253, Sereda district, city of Kaluga);

– 2004-2006 – officer of the Communications Battalion of the 62nd military base of the Russian Military Forces in Transcaucasia (Akhalkalaki / Akhaltsikhe – Georgia);

– 2006-2009 – commander of the 478th Separate Communications Battalion of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the North Caucasus Military District / South Military District (military unit 55095, Kalinovskaya / Shali, Chechnya).

Based on the comments, he retired from military service in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel a few years ago. Currently he lives with his family in Kaluga or Moscow. Presumably, he works in the fire department of the Ministry for Emergency Situations and likes doing embroidery.

The comments to Usatov’s photos suggest that at the time of the Russian invasion of Georgia he commanded the 478th Communications Battalion and was in the Tskhinvali region as early as August 9, 2008. Usatov’s comments often contain such words as “courage” and “heroism”. However, judging by the photographs, all the “heroism” and “courage” of the Russian soldiers of the 478th battalion was channeled into looting and robbery of abandoned Georgian shops, private houses, gardens, administrative buildings, and military units.

Additional photos of the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 are under the roll-up

As noted above, studying the account of Alexey Usatov we identified servicemen of the 42nd Division and in particular the 478th Communications Battalion from Chechnya, who took part in the aggression against Georgia in August 2008.

2. Sergey Minenkov



Born on August 23, 1968, lives in Moscow. In August 2008, he was the commander of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the North Caucasus Military District in the rank of major general.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/zFxKU. In other sources https://archive.is/e91OY and https://archive.is/9UXip.

Judging by the comments, General Minenkov was discharged from service shortly after the invasion of Georgia, after an explosion at the ammunition depot in the village of Shali. His subsequent career was associated with the bailiff service in Moscow courts.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photos #37, #38.

3. Aleksandr Borodin

In August 2008, he was deputy commander of the 478th Communications Battalion for technology and armament in the rank of major. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

No records in social networks found.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photos #28, #43 .



4. Evgeny Shapenkov



Presumably born 06/06/1976, lives in Irkutsk. In August 2008 – the commander of the 2nd company of the 478th Communications Battalion in the rank of captain. Later transferred to a military unit located in the village of Aksay, Rostov Oblast. It is possible he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

In social networks – http://archive.li/j4ILn – inactive since 2010. In the traffic police database https://archive.is/7b37m.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photos #26, #29, #33.



5. Eugeny Mozzhelin



Lives in the city of Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast. In August 2008, he was a platoon commander in the 1st company of the 478th Communications Battalion.

Graduate of the Novocherkassk Communications School. Apparently serving in the Russian Armed Forces with the rank of major.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/yj26q and http://archive.li/fHr6x.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #41



6. Vadim Shalobalo

Born 10/15/1980, lives in Krasnodar. As of August 2008 – an officer of the 478th Communications Battalion (possibly the 42nd Division) in the rank of Major. Perhaps, he still serves in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/VVgeH

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #30.

7. Pavel Rogozhin

In August 2008, a company commander of the battalion of “Peacemakers” of the 58th Army in the rank of captain.

He could not be found in social networks.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photos #27, #42.

8. Evgeny Bajchenko

Born 10/19/1970, lives in the village of Aksay, Rostov Oblast. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. It is possible he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/qFwUQ, http://archive.li/d0Lq2

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #9.



9. Aleksandr Evsyutin



Born 06/02/1980, lives in Stavropol. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. It is possible he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/KlgMx, http://archive.li/r0zr2

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #16.

10. Natalia Babak



Her birthday is April 20, she lives in Chechnya. In August 2008, she was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. It is possible she is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/o04dA, http://archive.li/uYjdo

She was found in Usatov’s album in photos #24, #40

11. Arthur Umarov



Born 01/20/1969, lives in Krasnodar. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion in the position of sergeant-major of the 2nd company. It is possible he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.is/CfKYw, https://archive.is/Jyn3n

He was found in Usatov’s album in photos #31, #32, #34

According to our data, in Spring 2014 he took part in the annexation of the Crimea.

12. Sergey Poplevichev



Born 08/04/1970, lives in Grozny, Chechnya. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Apparently, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/Nsp2K

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #33

According to our data, in Spring 2014 he took part in the annexation of the Crimea.

13. Alexey Poltavsky



His birthday is March 24, he lives in Talovsky Rayon of Voronezh Oblast. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Apparently, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media account: http://archive.li/0zjnS, the photo album contains personal photos from the period of the August war – http://archive.li/4JXqE

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #34.



14. Konstantin Zakharov



Born 04/13/1974, lives in the city of Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. It is possible he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: hides under the pseudonym “Askolb Bonifatic” http://archive.li/SkJCR http://archive.li/iHZYy

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #34.



15. Andrey Cherednik



Born 01/05/1968, lives in Krasnodar. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Until recently, he was still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/X7JlW, http://archive.li/zoz9E

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #37.



16. Nikolay Kozin



Born 08/01/1984, lives in the village of Barysh, Ulyanovsk Oblast. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.is/lmsXT

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #38

According to our data, in Spring 2014 he took part in the annexation of the Crimea.



17. Alexey Arzhanykh



Born 03/13/1989, lives in Tolyatti. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/nfhjy, http://archive.li/MSBIU

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #44 .

18. Sergey Toporkov



His birthday is January 25, he lives in Rostov Oblast. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/RCWri

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #44 .

19. Alexander Vorobyov



In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

No records in social networks found.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #25.

20. Vasily Sateev



In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Photos or accounts in social networks could not be found.

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #34

According to our data, in Spring 2014 he took part in the annexation of the Crimea.

21. Mukhtar Umarov



Mentioned as deceased in 2015. Possibly killed in the Donbas. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion.

Social media accounts: https://archive.is/b5GHk, http://archive.li/J8yXX

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #23

According to our data, in Spring 2014 he took part in the annexation of the Crimea.



22. Vova Baluyan



Born 07/18/1971 in Batumi, Georgia. Lives in the city of Smolensk or Podolsk. In August 2008, he was an extended term serviceman and contractor in the 478th Communications Battalion. Before his transfer to Chechnya, he served at the 12th Russian Military Base in Batumi. Presumably, he is still serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Social media accounts: http://archive.li/YaUKh, http://archive.li/OuezG

He was found in Usatov’s album in photo #39.



We found some curious details while investigating Baluyan’s social accounts. When he served in the Russian Army and participated in the aggression against Georgia, his family (his wife and two children) lived in the seaside city of Batumi until 2014:

wife Karina Baluyan-Barseghyan . Born in 1972 or 1973, social networksaccounts use the alias “nnnnnn vvvvvvv”. There are many residents of Batumi among the contacts;

Born in 1972 or 1973, social networksaccounts use the alias “nnnnnn vvvvvvv”. There are many residents of Batumi among the contacts; daughter Sofia Baluyan, born 02/12/2002, in social networks (1, 2, 3). There are many contacts from Batumi and photos of life in Georgia until 2014;

son Karen Baluian, born 11/08/1996 or 1997, in social networksuses the alias “Undead Army J-Dog ©”. In the second account, under his own name, there is a photograph in the album dated September 2, 2017, where he poses in a gas mask and uniform of the Russian Armed Forces (apparently during compulsory military service). Other photos in this account contain Russian propaganda.

We would like to remind you that this is not the first group identification of Russian war criminals who took part in the aggression against Georgia in 2008. In November 2015, InformNapalm identified 19 paratroopers of the 104th regiment of the 76th Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces. Eight of them were still serving in the Russian Army, and six paratroopers took part in the undeclared war against Ukraine.

Note: In August 2008, Russian special services, using their South Ossetian puppet separatists, provoked a military conflict in the Samachablo region (the so-called South Ossetia), Georgia. Russian “peacekeeping forces” deliberately did not respond to the activities of militants, who conducted targeted attacks against Georgian villages in the region. After the Georgian Armed Forces were forced to launch an operation to ensure the security of the population in the Tskhinvali region in the territory of the sovereign state of Georgia trying to contain the activities of provocateurs and separatists, Russia declared an operation of “coercion to peace”, which resulted in open aggression against Georgia with subsequent occupation of Samachablo and Abkhazia regions, as well as in the continuing so-called creeping occupation As a result of the Russian military incursion in 2008, 408 Georgian citizens (including 170 servicemen) were killed, the number of refugees and displaced persons increased by 26,000 people (the total number of refugees in Georgia is more than 260,000), more than 20 percent of the country’s territory is occupied.

This publication was prepared by Irakli Komaxidze specially for InformNapalm.

(Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0)

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