The Tsar's Wolves (Russian: Царские волки, romanized: Tsarskiye volki, also given as Czar's Wolves) is a Pro-Russian Militia and Mercenary Paramilitary notable for its ties to former Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin.[2][3]
| Tsar’s Wolves | |
|---|---|
| Царские волки | |
 Sleeve patch of the Unit | |
| Active | 2014 – Present |
| Country |  Russia |
| Role | Militia |
| Engagements | War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Dmitry Rogozin[1] |
History
editThe group claims to have named themselves after various Russian militias, with no affiliation to one other, that fought in the Yugoslav Wars and the Transnistria War. The group was formed during the War in the Donbas seeing service in the Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast. The unit has been described as "experienced military advisers and experts" and provide "military-technical support" for the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.[2] During the war they operated closely with the 1st Army Corps training them to use smart mortar sights.[4] The group's self stated goal is to restore the glory of the Russian Empire.[5]
Rogozin's takeover
editOn November 11, 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Dmitry Rogozin announced that he is the new leader of the group and will be providing “technical assistance” to the Russian Armed Forces.[2] During the war the group has operated a group of unmanned aerial vehicles and other new advanced technologies. Performing field tests for new Russian military advancements and technologies, mostly through trial by fire, with Rogozin being quoted as "What better conditions to test weapons than in a real war." On December 21, Rogozin was shot and wounded during a three-month stint on the Donetsk front-line.[5][6][7] Russian state news agency TASS stated Rogozin was wounded in a strike by a French manufactured CAESAR self-propelled howitzer.[8]
On January 27 2023, the Tsar's Wolves was working with the Advanced Research Foundation and Android Technika to test the Marker unmanned ground vehicle in a "baptism of fire in the Donbas". Russian forces hope the small unmanned vehicle will be able to act as reconnaissance locating and monitoring Ukrainian positions and movements, and even be outfitted with an explosive payload to destroy western-supplied tanks.[9] On 11 May 2023, Rogozin called for total mobilization of Russian men and materials to wage a total war against Ukraine. Citing mounting combat losses, Rogozin stated that "[Russia] must bear in mind that the enemy is stronger than us" and that his militia "is losing combat-ready guys."[10]
During the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive the unit saw combat in the vicinity of Lobkove, where it was unable to stop a Ukrainian advance to take the village.[11]
Rogozin and the Tsar's Wolves have been actively mocked by Yevgeny Prigozhin leader of the fellow mercenary company the Wagner Group. Prigozhin claims that Rogozin is simply putting on a tough-guy persona to regain clout in the Russian government, and to recover from his sacking as head of Roscosmos.[12]
On 9 July, the group reported to have recovered an unexploded Storm Shadow cruise missile, disassembling the missile for transport to Russian facilities for reverse engineering.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Former Russian space boss leads 'Tsar Wolves' in Donbass". 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "Former Russian space boss leads 'Tsar Wolves' in Donbass". www.azerbaycan24.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Latham, Brian (4 May 2023). "Wagner Isn't the Only Proxy Company Waging the Kremlin's Widening World War – It's Just the Biggest". Byline Times. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Created by Rogozin, the group "Tsars Wolves" is testing weapons on the front line". soldat.pro. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Russian 'Tsar's Wolves' group tests weapons in Ukraine". www.fikrikadim.com. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Farrell, Francis (22 December 2022). "Ex-Roscosmos head Rogozin, Donetsk proxy leader injured in possible targeted strike". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ Melkozerova, Veronika (22 December 2022). "Russia's notorious former space chief Rogozin wounded in shelling". Politico. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Former Roscosmos chief Rogozin wounded in Donetsk, his life is out of danger — aide". TASS. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ McMillan, Tim (27 January 2023). "Russia Wants To Use Robotic Tanks To Combat Advanced Western Armor in Ukraine. It's Likely a Fantasy". The Debrief. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ van Brugen, Isabel (11 May 2023). "Former Russian Space Chief Calls for Mobilization: 'The Enemy Is Stronger'". Newsweek. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George; Clark, Mason. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 11, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Berger, Eric (5 December 2022). "Dmitry Rogozin may be in some trouble in Russia". Ars Technica. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Russian troops seize near intact UK Storm Shadow missile". moderndiplomacy.eu. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.