Summary
Artem (or Artyom) Vladimirovich Zhoga (Russian: Артём Владимирович Жога, Ukrainian: Артем Володимирович Жога; born 18 January 1975)[1] is a Ukrainian-born Russian military officer and politician serving as the Chairman of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic since 20 September 2023.
Artem Zhoga | |
|---|---|
Артём Жога | |
 Zhoga in 2023 | |
| Chairman of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic | |
| Assumed office 20 September 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Vladimir Bidyovka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Artem Vladimirovich Zhoga 18 January 1975 Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | United Russia (2023–present) |
| Children | Vladimir Zhoga |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022)  Russia (2022–present) |
| Branch/service |  DPR Armed Forces (2014–2022)  Russian Ground Forces (2022–present) |
| Years of service | 2014–present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands |  Sparta Battalion |
| Battles/wars | |
He is the current commander of the Sparta Battalion, a pro-Russian force that is involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War. His son Vladimir was the commander of the battalion from 2016 until his death in 2022.[2][3][4]
Early life and pre-war period edit
Artem Zhoga was born in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR on 18 January 1975. His son Vladimir was born in 1993 and the family moved to Sloviansk shortly after.[5] Prior to the start of the War in Donbas, Zhoga was engaged in business, running several fish stores in Sloviansk.[6]
Russo-Ukrainian War edit
War in Donbas edit
Following the start of the War in Donbas, Zhoga and his son Vladimir joined the pro-Russian separatist forces and enlisted in the Sparta Battalion, becoming close friends with its commander Arsen Pavlov. Pavlov was assassinated in 2016 and Vladimir Zhoga succeeded him as the commander of the Sparta Battalion, with Artem being appointed the chief of staff of the battalion.[6]
Russian invasion of Ukraine edit
In March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his son was killed in combat in the Battle of Volnovakha. Artem Zhoga succeeded him as the commander of the battalion.[2]
He was among the speakers at the March 2022 pro-war rally in Moscow and stated that "our task is to liberate our land from Nazi people".[7]
On 9 May 2022 for Victory Day, Zhoga met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow where his late son's Hero of the Russian Federation award was presented to him.[8][9][10] On 30 September 2022, he was seen present in the front-row seating during Vladimir Putin's signing ceremony in Moscow Kremlin's St. George's Hall for the Russian Annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine.[11]
On 15 September, Zhoga announced that an "eight episode series" that he was involved in making would premiere in a month. Called "FATHERS OF DONBASS" he described it as "A series about the strong spirit of people who resist global Nazism and win this difficult fight. They live and enjoy every day, give birth and raise children no matter what". He announced on his Instagram account that the series will premiere on 15 October 2023.[12]
Political career edit
In 2023, Zhoga joined the ruling United Russia party and entered politics.[13] In the 2023 Russian regional elections in the Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, Zhoga was elected member of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic. On 20 September, Zhoga was elected Chairman of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic.[14]
References edit
- ^ "Жога Артем Владимирович / Жога Артем Володимирович / ZHoga Artem Vladimirovich". «МИРОТВОРЕЦЬ». Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ a b ""Спарту" возглавил Артем Жога — отец убитого нацистами Героя ДНР". EADaily (in Russian). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Командиром "Спарты" назначен Артем Жога". Смотрим.
- ^ Шерзад, Тимур (9 May 2022). ""Не за горами и наш парад": Артем Жога предрек разгром киевского режима". Телеканал «Звезда» (in Russian). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Воха из "Спарты": преемник Моторолы". svpressa.ru (in Russian). 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Артем Жога: биография, семья". mir-znamenitostej.ru. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Митинг лучше, чем жизнь". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Встреча с отцом Героя России Владимира Жоги". Президент России (in Russian). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Путин встретился с отцом погибшего в Донбассе командира батальона "Спарта"". РИА Новости (in Russian). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Путин вручил звезду Героя отцу погибшего командира батальона ДНР "Спарта"". Interfax.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ In full: Vladimir Putin officially annexing four Ukrainian regions at Moscow ceremony, retrieved 1 October 2022
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/CxNIHeHtvd7/
- ^ "Командир «Спарты» Артем Жога идет в политику" (in Russian). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Народный совет ДНР выбрал председателем Жогу". РИА Новости (in Russian). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
