InformNapalm volunteer intelligence community found on Russian social media new evidence that Russian servicemen of the 382nd Marine Battalion of the Russian Black Sea Fleet participated in the seizure of Belbek airfield, the headquarters of the 204th Sevastopol Tactical Air Force Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 50th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in the incursion into the village of Chongar in Henichesk Raion of Kherson Oblast of Ukraine.
Masks are off
In most of the photo and video footage taken by journalists during the Russian invasion into Crimea in 2014, the Russian “green men” could be seen wearing balaclavas and lacking insignia, which greatly complicated their identification. Russian military commanders were aware that they were committing a war crime, and therefore ordered the perpetrators to carefully disguise themselves. But over the years, through persistent open-source intelligence (OSINT) effort and monitoring of social networks, InformNapalm volunteers have been able to rip off the masks from Russian war criminals, establish their identities and provide additional evidence of their participation in the aggression against Ukraine.
Pictured – one of the subjects of this OSINT investigation. A balaclava thoroughly protected him from the cameras of journalists and bystanders, but it could not protect him from his own camera in his smartphone.
In this OSINT investigation we established the personal data of 13 Russian servicemen who participated in the aggression against Ukraine, and two other people from this unit had been identified by InformNapalm earlier in a previous investigation. General data of 15 Russian servicemen of the 382nd Marine Battalion (military unit 45765) is shown in the infographics.
Details of this OSINT investigation
The starting point of this OSINT investigation was Klim Karabukliyan, a Russian marine from the 382nd Marine Battalion. After examining his social media pages and pages of his colleagues we could identify 12 other Russian marines who also participated in the special operation to seize the Crimea. A complete list and additional facts are provided below.
- Klim Karabuklian (Russian: Карабуклиян Клим Максимович), born February 18, 1994 in Sochi, Russia.
Army photos started appearing in Karabuklian’s photo album in July 2013. He served as a machine gunner in the headquarters company of the 19th Motorized Rifle Brigade (MRB), military unit 20634, stationed in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia.
In December 2013, Karabukliyan transferred to the 382nd Marine Battalion of the Russian Black Sea Fleet (military unit 45765). It is based in the city of Temryuk, Krasnodar Krai and is a part of the 810th Marine Brigade (military unit 13140, based in Sevastopol, temporarily occupied Crimea). Karabukliyan mentioned his service as a marine under the following photo: “Now I’m a sailor ) I transferred to Temryuk, marines.”
On February 23, 2014 he posted a photo with a caption: “Goodbye Russia”.
Subsequent posts and photos on Karabukliyan’s page make it clear why he said goodbye to Russia and where he went.
On March 3, 2014, the subject of our investigation posted: “In Ukraine”.
The next photo in his profile features aircraft:
We managed to geolocate the spot and determine the coordinates of this shot: 44.685445, 33.566548. This is the Belbek Airfield, the city of Sevastopol, occupied Crimea.
We also found a photo of him in front of a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter.
In May, the unit of this Russian occupier, after completing its missions, returned from Ukraine to Russia. This posting says “I’m in Russia”.
Archived social media pages and photos of Karabukliyan
- Anton Karmelavichus (Russian: Кармелавичус Антон), born February 15, 1995 in Sochi city, Russia.
He posted a photo taken on the anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) KIL-158.
We wrote about the deployment of marines from Russia to Ukraine on this vessel in our previous investigation where we presented the data of the Russian marine Alexandr Udodov.
Here is a comparison of the photographs of Udodov and Karmelavichus taken aboard KIL-158.
The next photo was taken in front of a Ukrainian L-39 aircraft.
Photo of a sign with the inscription “204th Sevastopol Tactical Air Force Brigade” (screenshot).
Photo of a stand with the state symbols of Ukraine.
Photo near the headquarters of the military unit A4515. This is the 204th Sevastopol Tactical Air Force Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before the war, the brigade was based in Sevastopol (Belbek).
At the gates of the car park of the Belbek Airfield in the village of Lyubimovka.
Photo with the caption “Another Russian flag is raised in Belbek”.
The next photo was taken in Feodosia. It features military equipment and S-300 missile launchers. Before the Russian invasion, the 50th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was based in Feodosia. It had 2 S-300PT/PS battalions.
Further, we see the same equipment outside the window, and in the foreground the tablet where the invaders wrote their names.
And a photo of the medal For the Return of Crimea.
Social media pages and archives of Karmelavichus
- Andrey Belyaev (Russian: Беляев Андрей Алексеевич), born on December 28, 1994, indicates his place of residence in the village of Zassovskaya, Labinsk Raion, Krasnodar Krai and Tuapse city, Krasnodar Krai, may also reside in Labinsk city. He did his conscript military service in the Russian Army from 2013 to 2014, first in Maykop, then in Temryuk.
He posted a photo taken at the gates of the Belbek Airfield in the village of Lyubimovka.
The next photo was also taken in Belbek. The road behind the occupier leads to the airfield.
* We are grateful to our readers for their help in identifying the location of both photographs from the album of Belyaev.
Social media pages and archives of Belyaev
- Egor Biryuchkov (Russian: Бирючков Егор Иванович), born on October 26, 1993, in the village of Rostashi, Arkadak Raion, Saratov Oblast, Russia.
He did his conscript military service in 2012 in Barnaul in the strategic missile forces. In 2013, he signed a contract at the 382nd Marine Battalion.
On March 1, 2014, he posted a photo taken on KIL-158 support vessel.
He also posted photos taken in Crimea.
The caption under the photo of the boat says: “Belbek”
Biryuchkov also posted a photo of the award certificate of a medal for the occupation of Crimea, signed by the commander of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Colonel V. Belyavsky (the 382nd Marine Battalion is structurally a part of the 810th Marine Brigade). Read more about Colonel Belyavsky in our previous investigation.
Archived social media pages and photos of Biryuchkov
- Sergey Tsimmer (Russian: Циммер Сергей), born on October 23, 1993, indicated his place of residence on his social media pages as the cities of Krasnodar and Saratov.
Like the other men in this investigation, Tsimmer posted a photo taken aboard the ship in his album on February 23, 2014.
The next photos in the album were taken in Crimea with the corresponding caption.
Here, behind Tsimmer is an information board in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Social media pages and archives of Zimmer
- Denis Zabolotnikov (Russian: Заболотников Денис Александрович), born on October 09, 1983, graduated from high school in the village of Paygarma, Ruzaevka Raion, Republic of Mordovia, Russia. Ruzayevka is indicated as his place of residence.
He served in military unit 34091 (386th Motorized Rifle Training Regiment stationed in Knyaze-Volkonskoye village, Khabarovsk Krai) and in military unit 44922 (stationed in the town of Aniva, Sakhalin).
In August 2013, he was spotted serving in the Black Sea Fleet. On February 23, 2014, he posted a photo with a geotag in Tsemesskaya Bay (Krasnodar Krai, Russia).
Third on the left is Sergey Zimmer, fourth – Denis Zabolotnikov
Another photo on the ship.
Here are several photos from Belbek.
In connection with the next photo, let us recall that on March 7, 2014, local Kherson newspaper published a news story titled Kherson Oblast today: barrels of Russian APCs aimed at a Ukrainian school reporting that Russian troops entered the village and began mining the fields. The villagers stopped taking their children to school, because the barrels of nine Russian armored personnel carriers were aimed at the center of the village, where the school was located. In protest, residents raised Ukrainian flags on their houses and urged the authorities to protect them from Russian invaders. Apparently, Zabolotnikov was among the invaders referred to in this story. Here is a group photo of Russian servicemen with a caption: “Chongar”. Zabolotnikov is standing on the right.
The photo of a medal for the occupation of Crimea with its award certificate.
Social media pages and archives of Zabolotnikov
- Vladimir Lavrukhin (Russian: Лаврухин Владимир), born June 14, 1989 in Sloviansk-on-Kuban, Russia.
On February 23, 2014, Lavrukhin posted a number of photographs taken on a ship.
This is the same support vessel KIL-158, as in the photo of his colleagues.
Further in Lavrukhin’s album, photographs taken in Ukraine start to appear.
In the next photo, Russian invaders stand with weapons in their hands near a poster calling to “vote correctly on March 16”. This is a “campaign poster” for the so-called “referendum” held by the Russian invaders at gunpoint on March 16, 2014.
The next photo of Lavrukhin was taken in the village of Chongar, Kherson Oblast of Ukraine. He captioned his photo: “At the border! Chongar”.
In the background of the next photo, we see a billboard advertising Nova Poshta mail service in Ukrainian.
Lavrukhin also posted a photo with a medal for participation in the special operation to seize the Crimea.
Lavrukhin also has a group photo with other soldiers of his unit near a Ukrainian post office. Our readers managed to establish the location of this picture in Sevastopol.
In the photo, Lavrukhin and Biryuchkov are on the left, two other Russian servicemen will be discussed below.
Social media pages and archives of Lavrukhin
- Our next subject in this investigation is the third person on the group photo near the post office.
He is also featured in photographs in Tsimmer’s album. In one of them, we could read the name on his chest patch: Kamaletdinov.
Kamaletdinov’s social media profile is private.
However, his page was archived in 2015 – https://archive.is/xqNvK. Someone must have already studied the profile of this Russian war criminal. Kamaletdinov must have noticed the surveillance and made changes to his data: instead of his first name Valeriy, he wrote “Kama”. We thank the unknown investigator for helping us in establishing and documenting the real name of this Russian occupier.
After examining all the available data, we could establish that in the above photo we see Valeriy Kamaletdinov, born on June 29, 1993 in Dergachi town, Saratov Oblast, Russia.
- We also found two social media pages of the fourth person in the group photo near the post office. One of them is under the name of Sergei Valerievich, and the other is nicknamed “We Praise Our Own” (Russian: “свое славим”). Having studied the family circle of this user, we established the full name: Sergey Popov (Russian: Попов Сергей Валерьевич). He was likely born between 1985 and 1989 (classmates born in 1985 were found in his profile, and his younger brother Andrey was born in 1989).
He attended the high school in Trudobelikovskiy village, Krasnoarmeiskiy Raion, Krasnodar Krai. He has a car with a license plate Р409ХЕ93. His father lives in Slavyansk-on-Kuban.
Popov’ wariness in terms of offering his real name on social media is probably due to the fact he served in the Chechen Republic. He captioned this photo as follows: “They wanted to blow us up back in ‘10 in Chechnya”.
At the time of the Russian invasion in Ukraine in February 2014, Popov was serving under a contract in the 382nd Marine Battalion. Here he is in a photo from Lavrukhin’s album on February 23, 2014, taken on the ship that was carrying the invaders to Crimea.
Here he and Lavrukhin stand next to the familiar poster calling to “vote correctly”.
The following two photos were taken in Belbek.
Anton Karmelavichus was also photographed near this plane, and he signed the photo as taken in Belbek.
Let us compare the photos.
Social media pages and archives of Popov
- Alexander Yakunin (Russian: Якунин Александр), born on March 27, 1995 in Belorechensk city, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
He posted a photo taken at the Belbek Airfield against the background of Ukrainian state symbols, a map of Ukraine, and information stands of the airfield.
There was an interesting conversation between Yakunin and his friends under a photograph taken on the seashore in Sevastopol. This conversation testifies that the Crimeans resented the Russian invasion.
Yakunin: In Sevostopol
Shelestov: It’s SevAstopol. Locals are not yet offended?
Yakunin: No… just waiting for our departure…
Zaitseva: Screw them all!!!”
Social media pages and archives of Yakunin
- Alexandr Belov (Russian: Белов Александр), born on February 24, 1993 in Soldato-Aleksandrovskoe village, Sovetskiy Raion, Stavropol Krai, Russia.
He served in the Russian Army in 2013-2014. He started the service in the 34th Motorized Rifle Brigade, then transferred to the marines.
On March 1, 2014, in the comments under his photo, he wrote that he was preparing to go to Crimea on the orders of Putin.
“Belov: The president said to send troops to put things in order, thereby helping Crimea
Lyalin: Are you going to Sevastopol?
Belov: First to Sevastopol and then we’ll see
Khudyakov: Prepare in silence – a talker is a godsend for a spy
Belov: Makes no sense to keep mum, everyone knows anyway!”
Social media pages and archives of Belov
- Stas Ilyushchenko (Russian: Илющенко Стас), born June 16, 1994 in the village of Shkurinskaya, Kushchevskiy Raion, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
He began his military service in Maykop in the 33rd Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade. In November 2013, he transferred to the 382nd Marine Batalion in Temryuk.
On March 2, 2014, he updated his status to “Going abroad for a long time.” When asked where exactly, he answered that it was Ukraine.
On March 24, he published a post saying “Captured”, and in May he wrote about his return to Russia.
In the next photo Ilyushchenko is in the center, on the right is Belov, already known to us, and on the left is Ivan Konyukhov, who will be discussed below.
Social media pages and archives of Ilyushchenko.
- Ivan Konyukhov (Russian: Конюхов Иван), born on January 21, 1993, indicated his place of residence in the cities of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky and Rostov-on-Don.
Konyukhov did not immediately post any photographic evidence of his participation in the special operation to seize the Crimea; he uploaded his photos only in December 2014, including a photo with a medal for the occupation of the Crimea.
From left to right, subjects of this investigation: Konyukhov, Ilyushchenko, Belov
Konyukhov was also photographed at the stele with the inscription in Ukrainian “Air Force. Serving the Ukrainian people!”.
Our readers recognized the location. Apparently, this photo was taken on the territory of the former 168th State Aviation Research Center (military unit A0156). Its headquarters and some subunits were located in Prymorske, and the main airfield in Kirovsky, Crimea.
Social media pages and archives of Konyukhov
For information about the commander of the 382nd Marine Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Kartavkin, under whose command the marines participated in the special operation to seize Crimea, read the previous InformNapalm investigation.
Conclusions
We call on the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine to carry out all the necessary legal proceedings in accordance with Ukrainian and international legislation in relation to the identified Russian servicemen, participants in the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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