Volunteers of InformNapalm international intelligence community from Sakartvelo (Georgia) have prepared a new OSINT investigation identifying 30 artillerymen of the Russian Armed Forces of the 7th Russian Military Base (military unit 09332) who participated in the aggression against Ukraine from 2014 and on. We have found a number of direct signs that give us strong grounds for this conclusion. Observations of the social profiles of the persons represented indicate that most of them in 2021 continued to serve in the ranks of the 7th Russian Military Base, whose personnel is also present at the borders of Ukraine on a rotational basis. We hope that by disclosing the data of these artillerymen we might motivate them not to carry out any more criminal orders of the Kremlin, as the responsibility for them becomes more personalized. 

Foreword

Amid mounting military tension on the border with Ukraine in the Rostov Oblast of the Russian Federation, and in the occupied Crimea, we have noted the presence of several battalion tactical groups (BTG) of the Southern Military District in the border zone. Among them, there are BTGs from the 7th Russian Military Base (military unit 09332, Gudauta, occupied Abkhazia, Georgia), whose zone of responsibility includes the Novoazovske area.

The presence of subunits of the 7th Military Base on the border with Ukraine, as well as the direct participation of its subunits and individual servicemen in hostilities in the Donbas is reflected in more than 30 OSINT investigations by InformNapalm, published from 2014 to 2019. Among them there is a series of group identifications disclosing the data of dozens of Russian military personnel. One of the most interesting features is a 2016 investigation titles – 21 out of 35… with the identification of the artillerymen of the 7th Military Base who took part in shelling Ukraine. This investigation continued the topic of “wandering batteries” raised by InformNapalm at the height of events in 2014 (1 and 2).

It is noteworthy that our data was used in 2015 for further investigation by the Russian RBK news portal and was reflected in their article titled Reluctant Service, featuring the contract artillerymen of the 7th Military Base, who deserted service after the “Rostov deployment”.

Over the years, the relevance of this topic has not faded away. Moreover, most of the subjects in our new OSINT investigation continue their contract service at the 7th Military Base and get involved in the BTGs placed on a rotational basis on combat duty near the borders of Ukraine.

30 identified Russian artillerymen from the crews of the D-30 towed howitzers

This new investigation identifies Russian artillerymen of the 7th Military Base who, as part of the combined artillery and rocket battalion, took part in the shelling of Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian servicemen in the second half of 2014.

In this OSINT investigation, we have identified 30 servicemen of this unit, the bulk of them are contract soldiers, and several are conscripts. Analyzing and summarizing the information and visual evidence obtained from the social media profiles of the veterans of Ukraine deployments 2014, we could trace their combat records, including, the transfer to Ashuluk training range in the Astrakhan Oblast. This is where they had their combat coordination practice, and then were transferred to the Ukrainian border for the direct participation in hostilities in the Donbas. In our investigation, we present a complete set of indisputable evidence of the participation of the artillerymen of the 7th Military Base in the summer and autumn events of 2014 in Ukraine. Some of the most telling signs are non-standard uniforms with identification white armbands of “rebel miners” worn by the professional Russian artillerymen, as well as peculiar tactical markings of the Russian invasion forces on their vehicles in the form of white circles, combat awards of the veterans and their own comments, photographs of field and forest camps, geotags and much more.

In addition to the identification of another group of Russian war criminals, one of the new and interesting findings is that in the mixed battalion of the 7th Military Base, in addition to the previously established 152 mm Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers and 122 mm Grad MLRS, there was a battery of 122 mm D-30 towed howitzers. It is noteworthy that officially the D-30 howitzers are not in service with the 7th Military Base. Apparently, howitzers were first tried out by the Gudauta artillerymen at the Ashuluk training range in the spring of 2014, and then were actively used in the Ukrainian deployment since the summer of the same year. Since 2016, D-30 began to appear in Abkhazia in the social media albums of the 7th Military Base servicemen. Later, the same D-30s appeared in several Russian TV reports showing combat training at the Tsebelda mountain range.

Individuals involved in our investigation and the findings related to the Ukrainian deployment of 2014

1. Pavel Stepanenko (aka PAVLIK MOROZov)

Born August 20,1990, in the town of Dubovka, Volgograd Oblast, Russian Federation.

From 2008 to 2010 he did his conscript service in the Russian signals troops.

Since 2013 he has been on contract service at the7th Military Base.

In 2014 he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK (archive), OK (archive 1, 2)

Stepanenko posted a number of photographs in the fall of 2014:

e.g. with a colleague (identified as investigated individual No.2 “K. Konstantinov”) wearing non-standard uniforms and white armbands, at the combat positions of the D-30 howitzers battery. One of the photos in the background shows Kamaz trucks disguised at the edge of the forest with white identification circles. The photo contains the commentary “Khohliandia” [Ed.: derogatory name used by Russians for Ukraine]. The same Kamaz trucks, but photographed at a closer distance are present in the photo album of the individual No.14 S. Lyskov.

Note: scroll down to view archived photos from OK.

Photos 1 and 2 with colleagues (individuals No.15 A. Grebennikov and No.5 A. Nagorny) in non-standard uniform and with white armbands, were taken in the back of a truck.

A photo with colleagues from the forest camp (individuals No.3 E. Kerobyan and individual No.4 D. Krainov).

A photo from a field camp in the Rostov Oblast, also allowed for identification of fellow veterans (individuals No.16 A. Amirov and No.17 A. Mamaev) and people on other photographs of this series.

A curious group photo with the commentary “2GSABatr” (2nd howitzer self-propelled artillery battery), in which 28 Russian invaders are posing in combat gear and wearing white identification armbands (the quality of the image made it difficult to use it for a more detailed analysis).

The social media profile of Stepanenko allowed for identification of his following colleagues, participants in the events of 2014:

2. Konstantin Konstantinov  (presumably a pseudonym)

Born in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media account on VK (archive).

 3. Erik Kerobyan

Born in Kislovodsk, Stavropol Krai, Russian Federation.

As of 2014-2016 he was an active military serviceman with the 7th Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media accounts: VK1, VK2 (archive 1, 2).

4. Dmitry Krainov

Born September 07, 1994, in the village of Yandyki, Astrakhan Oblast, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine

His social media account: OK (archive 1, 2)

5. Andrey Nagorny

Born May 06, 1984, in Mezhgorye, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation.

He did his conscript service and took the first contract in North Ossetia in the city of Mozdok at 58th Combined-Arms Army of Southern Military District.

Since 2012, he has been on contract service at the7th Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media accounts: OK (archive 1, 2)

 More research – more findings

It is noteworthy that, individual No.4 D. Krainov, posted informative photographs of the Ukrainian deployment of 2014. Among them, there was a group photo of artillerymen of the 7th Military Base, which had been spotted by our researchers and reflected in the InformNapalm materials in 2014, 2016 and 2017 with the identification of Russian war criminals. Ironically, but years later Krainov himself gave himself out as a missing link for our investigations.

Another photo from Krainov’s album with fresh first snow and camouflaged equipment, which also belongs to the period of the Ukrainian deployment, made it possible to identify another colleague (individual No.6 V. Tibilov)

6. Vitalik Tibilov

Born April 27, 1990, in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base stationed in occupied Abkhazia.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine

His social media accounts: VK (archive 1, 2 )

Another photograph led us to the identification of the individual No.7 – A. Meremkulov, who had quite remarkable pictures from the times of the Ukrainian deployment in 2014. They were used to identify 6 more Russian servicemen – these are individuals No.8 D. Kutia, No.9 A. Mkrtchyan, No.10 I. Zatsepin, No.11 M. Lisin, No.12 A. Ghazaryan, No.13 I. Babushkin.

7. Azamat Maremkulov

Born May 12, 1989, in the city of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK (archive 1, 2 )

8. Denis Kutia

Born August 31, 1994, in Stavropol city, Russia.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK (archive 1, 2)

9. Aram Mkrtchyan

Born December 20, 1978, in Armenia.

Lives in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK1, VK2, VK3 (archive 1, 2, 3, 4)

 10. Ilya Zatsepin

Born March 19, in Maykop, Adygea, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base. Previously, he served in the 8th Mountain Riffle Brigade in Chechnya.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine

His social media account on VK (archive).

11. Maksim Alekseenko (aka Lisin)

Born November 13, in Nizhny Novgorod.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media account:  VK (archive).

12. Alik Ghazaryan

Born December 17, 1987, in Tbilisi, Georgia

He did his conscript military service in the 7th Airborne Division of the Russian Airborne Forces.

Subsequently, a contract serviceman of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media accounts: VK, OK (archive 1, 2)

13. Ivan Babushkin

Born June 03, 1989, in Shakhtinsk, Karaganda Oblast, Kazakhstan.

Resides in Krasnodar city.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VК, OK1, ОК2 (archive 1, 2, 3, 4)

14. Slavik Lyskov

Born February 09, 1986, in the village of Mostovskaya, Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation.

Since 2011, he has been on contract service at the7th Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

He was decorated with a medal For Military Valor of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation 

His accounts on social media: OK, VK (archive 1, 2 , 3)

This photo in front of KamAZ trucks with white markings of the Russian invasion forces was mentioned above. The same trucks are visible from a distance on the photo of the individual No.1, Stepanenko.

15. Alexander Grebennikov

 Born March 30, 1992, in Yessentuki, Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation.

Since 2013, he has been on contract service at the7th Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK1, VK2, OK (archive 1, 2, 3)

16. Anton Kalmykov

From the city of Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

He was decorated with a medal For Military Valor of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

His account on social media: VK (archive).

In this photo, individuals No.14 Lyskov and No.7 Maremkulov pose together with Kalmykov (photo from the latter’s album).

17. Amantai / Alexey Amirov

Born March 7, 1994, in the village of Prudentov, Volgograd Oblast, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK1, VK2 (archive 1, 2, 3, 4)

18. Asker Mamaev

Born December 11, 1986 or February 11, 1985, in the village of Chervlennye Buruny, Dagestan, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK1, VK2 (archive 1, 2, 3)

19. Aleksandr Dyachkov  (aka Aleksandrov)

Born February 21, 1994, in Budennovsk, Stavropol Krai, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

He was awarded a Medal for Bravery of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

His accounts on social media: VK1, VK2 (archive 1, 2)

In the photo album of this person involved, there are many solid confirmations of his participation in the events of the fall of 2014. Including photos with colleagues and geolocation near the Ukrainian border – Veselo-Voznesenka village near Taganrog (6 km to the border with Ukraine) and the Krinichno-Lugsk village  in Kuibyshevsky Raion of the Rostov Oblast (10 km to the Ukrainian border).

20. Andrey Dyakterev

Born in Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, he took an active part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media account: VK ( archive )

In addition to the above-mentioned identified individuals, we must mention another group of servicemen of the 7th Military Base also involved in the war against Ukraine. Below are photos with 16 and 11 servicemen from the transit camp of the Russian Armed Forces near the border with Ukraine in the Rostov Oblast, with a muzzle of a D-30 howitzer. In the photos, we could identify 10 military men, 4 of them were mentioned above (No.1 Stepanenko, No.3 Kerobyan, No.17 Amirov, No.18 Mamaev), as well as a subject of our investigation from 2017 – N. Pestov.

21. Konstantin Voropanov

Born December 13, 1993, in the city of Asha, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russian Federation.

Serviceman of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: OK, VK(archive 1, 2 , 3)

22. Dmitry Logachev (aka Sokol)

Born December 20, 1994, in the city of Gorno-Altaysk, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK1, VK2, VK3 (archive 1, 2)

23. Sergey Ilyanov

Born December 25, 1992, in Volgograd, Russian Federation.

Serviceman of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His social media accounts: VK, OK (archive 1, 2)

24. Maxim Kryachek

Born September 29, 1986, in the town of Temryuk, Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation.

A seasoned contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media:VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, OK1, OK2, OK3, OK4 (archive)

25. Konstantin Sharan

Born February 26, 1996, in the city of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russian Federation.

Serviceman of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK, OK1, OK2 (archive 1, 2)

26. Alexander Dolotov

 Born September 01, 1988, in the city of Omsk, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media:  VK1VK2, OK (arcive 1, 2, 3)

27. Anatoly Dolgikh

Born in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK (archive)

28. Andrey Semyonov

Born in Stavropol city, Russian Federation.

Contract soldier of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His account on social media: VK (archive)

29. Raphael Kuznetsov

Born in the town of Krasnoslobodsk, Volgograd Oblast, Russian Federation.

Serviceman of the 7th Russian Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK1, VK2 (archive)

30. Vasily Khachkinaev

Born February 25, 1989,

in the town of Bataysk, Rostov Oblast, Russian Federation.

Since 2013, he has been on contract service at the7th Military Base.

In 2014, took part in the aggression against Ukraine.

His accounts on social media: VK (archive 1, 2), OK  (archive 1, 2)

Let us recall that during the “peaceful” period from 2014 to 2021, the 7th Military Base (military unit 09332) broke all records and was featured 35 times in the investigations of the InformNapalm international volunteer community. These publications present clear facts of participation in hostilities in the Donbas of not only of individual servicemen, but also of entire regular subunits of this unit. The investigations contain personal data of the command and rank-and-file personnel (200 servicemen) of this military unit.

More about 7th Military Base here.

By Irakli Komakhidze. Translated by Andrii Gryganskii, edited by Artem Velichko. Active link to the author is obligatory for any reprint or further use of the material.
(Creative Commons – Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0)

Repost and share with friends!

For notifications about InformNapalm investigations follow us on Facebook / / Twitter.