Aleksandr Sergeevich Kuznetsov (Ru: Кузнецов Александр Сергеевич), nom de guerre Ratibor, is a Russian soldier who co-founded the Wagner Group alongside Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin. His first role in the mercenary company was as commander of the 1st Attack and Reconnaissance Company in 2014, and fought in Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Ukraine.[1] Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, Kuznetsov joined the Chechen Akhmat forces in Ukraine with other ex-Wagner mercenaries.[2]
Alexander Sergeevich Kuznetsov | |
|---|---|
 Kuznetsov in the Russian Army at an unknown date | |
| Native name | Кузнецов Александр Сергеевич |
| Nickname(s) | Ratibor |
| Born | October 8, 1977 Nikolskoye, Gatchinsky District, Leningrad Oblast, USSR (now Russia) |
| Allegiance |  Russia (2000s - 2008)Wagner Group (2014-2023) Russia (2024-present) |
| Service | GRU (2000s-2008) 1st Attack and Reconnaissance Company (2014-2023) Kadyrovites (2024 - present) |
| Rank | Major (2008) Company commander and Council of Commanders (2014-2023) |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Hero of Russia Order of Courage (Russia) Medal of Bravery (Russia) Hero of the Luhansk Peoples' Republic Hero of the Donetsk Peoples' Republic |
| Spouse(s) | Elena Mikhailovna Kuznetsova |
| Children | Sergey Kuznetsov Ksenia Kuznetsova Ksyusha Kuznetsova |
Biography
editKuznetsov was born on October 8, 1977, in Nikolskoye, USSR in what is now Russia.[3][4] He graduated from the Saint Petersburg Higher Military Command College, and soon joined Senezh, the Russian special operations forces. In 2004, Kuznetov posted a video claiming he was in the group of Russian soldiers that killed Chechen fighter Khamzat Gelayev.[1] He was company commander of GRU in Solnechnogorsk.[1][4] In 2008, as a major in the Russian government, he was arrested and convicted of robbery and kidnapping, a sentence he served in a Nizhny Novgorod prison for five years.[4][5] He helped found the Wagner Group in 2014 alongside Yevgeny Prigozhin, Anton Yelizarov, Andrei Troshev, and Dmitry Utkin with the blessing of the Russian government.[1] He was placed as the commander of the 1st Attack and Reconnaissance Company.[6] He took the call sign "Ratibor", and his first deployment was in Ukraine during the War in Donbas in 2014 with Rusich.[1]
In 2016, Kuznetsov served in Syria in the Moran Security Group, a predecessor to Wagner. He was photographed with Utkin, Troshev, and Andrey Bogatov receiving the Hero of Russia award from Vladimir Putin.[5][1][7] In 2019, Kuznetsov served with Wagner in Libya alongside the Libyan National Army during their offensives on Tripoli.[3] On October 3, 2019, Kuznetsov was wounded in an ambush that killed 15 Wagner and Rusich operatives.[4][8] He was flown to Saint Petersburg for treatment.[1] After the injury, Kuznetsov headed Meroe Gold in Sudan, a Wagner-linked company controlling several gold mines in Sudan.[9]
In February 2022, Kuznetsov fought in the Russian invasion of Ukrainem where he was injured on January 11, 2023, during the Battle of Soledar.[10] In December 2022, Kuznetsov had been shown in a video by Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov.[1] During the Wagner Group rebellion in June 2023, Kuznetsov led Wagner's assault and capture of the city of Rostov-on-Don.[8][1] He reportedly kept a low profile after the rebellion and after Prigozhin's death in September 2023, not seeking any political aims within the group.[11][1] Kuznetsov joined the Akhmat Special Forces led by Apti Alaudinov alongside 3,000 other former Wagner fighters in April 2024.[2][12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Threatologist (2023-11-21). "Wagner commander Aleksandr Kuznetsov". Threatologist. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ a b "After the mutiny What happened to the Wagner Group's mercenaries in the year since Prigozhin's 'march on Moscow'?". Meduza. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ a b "Statements: Aleksandr Sergeevich KUZNETSOV". Open Sanctions. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Кузнецов Александр Сергеевич". Myrotvorets. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Ghost of Civil War in Russia?". Sceeus. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Aleksandr Sergeevich Kuznetsov". Open Sanctions. 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ Emmott, Robin (December 13, 2021). "EU hits Russian mercenary group Wagner with sanctions". Reuters. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Они сами толком не знали, куда едут В гражданской войне в Ливии погибли от 10 до 35 российских наемников. "Медуза" узнала имена некоторых из них". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin's war effort in Ukraine | CNN". 2023-05-20. Archived from the original on 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ gerhardsh@proton.me (2023-01-27). "News: Ratibor PMC Wagner seriously wounded in Ukraine - file". Evocation. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Wagner Group: What will become of Prigozhin's lieutenants after mutiny?". 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ Marten, Kimberly. "Where's Wagner Now? One Year after the Mutiny – PONARS Eurasia". www.ponarseurasia.org. Retrieved 2024-08-26.