Goncharov, a two-time Olympiad participant, is fighting against Ukraine in a Russian infantry unit
Vladimir Goncharov, a well-known athlete and medalist at the World and European Championships in shooting, is fighting in the war against Ukraine as part of the Russian army.
The 49-year-old major is responsible for the morale and psychological well-being of one of the battalions of the Russian Federation’s 1487th Motorized Rifle Regiment.
The unit in which the former Olympian serves gained notoriety during the battles for Avdiivka in late 2023.
The 1487th Regiment is known for its contemptuous attitude toward its own personnel and brutal command methods.
Soldiers from this unit have repeatedly participated in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the Pokrovsk area, which may be classified as a war crime.
According to the testimony of prisoners of war, the regiment engaged in beating and executing soldiers who refused to carry out suicidal assault orders.
Vladimir Goncharov himself, who previously represented Russia at the Olympic Games in Sydney and Rio de Janeiro, is now using his experience to incite Russian soldiers to aggression.
Instead of sporting achievements, the former member of the Olympic family is now engaged in the ideological indoctrination of his subordinates, forcing them to carry out criminal orders.
An occupier decorated by Putin committed a war crime in Ukraine
The occupier was blown up by a battery from an FPV drone while trying to keep warm
