Vladimir Makarov

"It doesn't take the most powerful nations on Earth to create the next global conflict. Just the will of a single man."

- Vladimir Makarov

Vladimir R. Makarov (Russian: Влади́мир Р. Мака́ров) was the leader of an Ultranationalist terrorist cell, Zakhaev's protégé. He is a supporting antagonist in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the main antagonist of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Early Military/Terrorist Career
According to intelligence gathered by Lieutenant General Shepherd, Vladimir Makarov graduated from the Frunze Military Academy as a Captain in the Russian Army, first serving as a paratrooper. Later on in his career he made it into the Spetsnaz and served two tours in Chechnya. It is believed that a company under his command were involved with some of the most brutal "cleansing" raids.

At some point, the U.N. held an inquiry investigating these charges of human rights violations. Makarov's name appeared at the top of the list presented by an EU Investigation panel, but the inquiry was dropped when Makarov opted for discharge from the armed forces. This incident would mark the beginnings of his pathological hatred towards the West and the Russian government for giving him no other option but to leave the armed forces. Afterwards, Makarov brought his past military training to bear in many criminal and terrorist enterprises such as human trafficking, money laundering, the bombing of military/civilian targets, assassination, etc. At some point, the leader of the burgeoning Ultranationalist Party, Imran Zakhaev, took notice and allowed Makarov a position within his anti-western movement. It is said that Makarov was "kept in check" by Zakhaev during this partnership. In 1996 Makarov, along with fellow soldier Yuri, was present in Pripyat when Zakhaev was shot by John Price. He drove Zakhaev away from the area, possibly saving his life. This earned him Zakhaev's trust. During Zakhaev's scheme in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, it was Makarov who ordered the detonation of the nuclear device at Al-Asad's palace. Yuri was the only witness to this. Zakhaev himself, was killed by combined USMC, Loyalist and SAS forces at the climax of the Second Russian Civil War and the Ultranationalist party splintered. Makarov's resources and contacts within the criminal world allowed him to assume control of a large portion of the dissolved Ultranationalist party.

According to newspaper clippings in his safehouse, Vladimir held up photos of Bravo Six (Gaz, Griggs, Price and MacTavish) and declared them to be responsible for the death of Imran Zakhaev. Most likely, it is for this reason that he holds a grudge against Price. Included were news articles showing Makarov being responsible for terrorist attacks in London and Moscow; threatening the removal of the Ultranationalist party controlling Russia. Newspapers in the cutscene before the level No Russian also mention Makarov being a student of Russian history, and wanting to see a return to an autocratic rule like that of pre-communist Russia.

Staging the Plan
"Makarov's no prize. He's a whore. A mad-dog killer for the highest-bidder."

- General Shepherd to Private Allen.

In 2016, General Shepherd and his Task Force 141 are seemingly responsible for capturing Makarov and bringing him to justice. Shepherd selects American infantryman Joseph Allen from the 75th Rangers Battalion and grooms him to become a CIA agent. Shepherd then inserts Allen within Makarov's terrorist cell, seemingly for the purpose of some deep cover operation.

Airport Massacre and Global Conflict
"S nami bog. Remember...no Russian."

- Vladimir Makarov to his fellow terrorists.

Makarov and his men launch their terrorist attack on Zakhaev International Airport with their latest member, Alexei Borodin (Joseph Allen's alias) in tow. Suspiciously, Allen's only orders are to follow Makarov and his men as they shoot their way through the airport, but not to intervene in any capacity. By the end of the assault, it is made apparent that Makarov knows Borodin is an undercover CIA operative. He kills Allen and leaves his body at the scene of the massacre, implicating the American soldier in the attack. Makarov explains to his comrades that his actions were meant to bring about a full scale war between the United States and Russia. Incidentally, this war would personally benefit General Shepherd. Before launching the attack, Makarov also found out that his old friend Yuri had betrayed him and shot him. Yuri vainly tried to go after Makarov but passed out due to his injuries. Yuri would never forget this.

Presumed Location
"Intel suggests Makarov may be using a safehouse..."

- Ghost

The war ensues and General Shepherd is given supreme command over the military and a mandate to continue his search for Makarov, who the General now truly needs killed so that he can bury any evidence of foul play. Makarov and his men are tracked down to two possible locations. One element of the Task Force is sent after Makarov in his Safehouse in the Caucus Mountains and another is sent to assassinate him at an airplane graveyard in Afghanistan. Shepherd then begins to purge his own Task Force of anyone who knows of his involvement with the airport massacre and the surrounding events. Makarov is contacted by Captain Price, who asks for intel on Shepherd's whereabouts. Realizing that his only hope for survival is getting rid of Shepherd, Makarov agrees to tell Price the location of Shepherd's base, one Site Hotel Bravo. Price and MacTavish later act on this information and assassinate Shepherd. Although no outcome is given concerning the battle between Shadow Company and Makarov's forces, Makarov himself survives. Hours after Shepherd was killed by Soap and Price, Makarov attacks the Loyalist safehouse in Northern India, the Loyalists and Task Force 141 operatives however escape.

Escalation
During the 2 months after the Russian military invasion of the United States fails, Makarov plans a massive terrorist/military bliztkrieg attack on the cities and capitals of Europe with the goal of Russia being the supreme ruler of the continent. To achieve this goal Makarov secretly procures a large arsenal of deadly chemical weapons, to be used as a first strike weapon on many key military and government instillations throughout Western Europe. Makarov also amasses most of the Russian military to his plans of military conquest of Europe and coup d'état against Boris Vorshevsky, using the Russian peoples’ belief that their war against the U.S. is still justified, and convincing top Russian generals that Vorshevsky's peace agreement as an act against the Russian people to side with Makarov.

With his chemical weapons ready and military invasion force set, Makarov hijacks President Boris Vorshevsky's plane enroute to negotiate peace with NATO. Makarov's men force the plane to crash land where they swarm the site. Makarov kills Andrei Harkov and the rest of the President's security detail.

Assassination Attempt and Vorshevsky's Daughter
With full scale war on the European continent, Makarov meets with his advisors in Prague. Aware that he is the target of assassination, like Zakhaev before him, Makarov sets a trap for the TF 141 operatives. Price and Yuri escape but Soap is mortally wounded and Soap eventually dies of his injuries. During a flashback to the events of Modern Warfare, it is shown that he and Yuri saved Zhakaev and that he detonated the nuclear warhead over Al-Asad's capital city. Makarov then talks to his second in command who is stationed in the Ultranationalist stronghold not far from Prague, and discusses plans to capture Alena Vorshevsky. Makarov's men get there before Delta Force can, and take her to an Ultrantionalist base in a Diamond Mine in Eastern Siberia. However a joint operation by both Delta Force and TF 141 rescues both Vorshevskys.

Final Fate
"Haven't you heard Price? They say the war is over."

- Makarov to Price after answering Price's phone call

With the war over, Makarov went into hiding in the Arabian Peninsula at the Hotel Oasis. In January, Price and Yuri assault the hotel intent on killing him. Price catches up with Makarov, preventing his escape by a helicopter by killing the pilots. As the chopper crashes in the ensuing chaos, Makarov beats Price to his Desert Eagle and nearly kills him. He is then shot by Yuri, who in turn is killed by him. This buys Price enough time to beat Makarov down, wrap a cord around his neck and force him through the glass roof, shredding and hanging him at the same time.

Associates

 * Alejandro Rojas - Status-Active/KIA (Depends on actions). Captured by Captain John "Soap" MacTavish and tortured, he can be killed by the player at the start of "The Hornet's Nest."
 * Imran Zakhaev - Status-KIA. Killed by John "Soap" MacTavish in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
 * Joseph Allen aka Alexei Borodin - Status-KIA. Undercover CIA operative, executed in order to instigate the Russo-American War.
 * Viktor - Status-KIA. One of the terrorists in the airport, in "No Russian." He is killed by the HVI during the events of "Exodus".
 * Anatoly - Status-Alive. Another terrorist in "No Russian." He is one of the getaway drivers.
 * Lev - Status-KIA. One of the terrorists in "No Russian." He was killed by the FSB on the runway.
 * Kiril - Status-KIA. Assists Makarov in the terrorist attack. He is killed by the FSB.
 * Makarov's Driver - Status-Alive. Another terrorist in "No Russian." He is the Ambulance driver. However he cannot be seen unless the player uses "noclip" to see him in the driver's seat.
 * Volk - Status-Alive. German bomb-maker. Hiding in Paris, a large land battle was fought to ensure his safety for interrogation. Responsible for dealings with Waraabe and for chemicals released in Paris and London.
 * Yuri - Status-KIA. A former recruit and former friend of the Ultranationalists. Yuri attempted to stop Makarov's airport massacre but was instead shot and left for dead. Makarov would later be wounded by Yuri, only to get a few fatal shots on his former friend.

Acts of Terrorism

 * 2001 - To start off Makarov's reign of terror Imran Zakhaev orders Makarov to bomb a Moscow city bus. The mission succeeded and killed 29 people and injured 19 more.
 * 2001 - Used a modified London Underground train filled with explosives to bomb Piccadilly Circus, killing 407.
 * 2001 - Massacre at GUM mall in Moscow, 87 dead.
 * 2002 - Hijack of Greek oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea. Greek Navy boarding party along with 2 crew members killed before $3 million ransom is paid.
 * 2002 - Murder of 3 Russian infantry soldiers.
 * 2003 - Repression of North Caucasus-based, pro-Western nationalist groups. Assassinations of political leaders, arson and bombing of opposition parties. Murder of Moscow-based journalist Ilya Lovitch, who was investigating political crimes in the region.
 * 2003 - Bombing of several high Government buildings in Kazakhstan, 245 dead.
 * 2003 - Commander of two Kreigler Airliner hijackings, 378 dead, including 8 of his own men.
 * 2004 - Robbed an HBS bank in Istanbul.
 * 2004 - Kidnapping of 15 college students from Russia, 5 dead.
 * 2004 - Bombing of two embassies in Africa, 28 dead 48 injured.
 * 2005 - Hold-up of bullion trucks in Moscow, stole 3 million rubles. 3 security guards dead.
 * 2005 - Hijacking of cruise ship in the Baltic Sea, tortured US passengers until $5 million ransom is paid.
 * 2006 - Robbed the Russian State Postal and Banking Service Depot of 32 million rubles.
 * 2006 - Murder of famous British designer Rob Millington.
 * 2006 - Murder of 3 US airmen based in Turkmenistan.
 * 2006 - Helped coordinate attacks by Janjaweed militias and Sudanese military against rebels. Implicated in human rights abuse.
 * 2007 - Capture and beheading of Mossad attache to Ukraine who was investigating Makarov's links to Islamic extremists.
 * 2007 - Assassination of Pakistani politician Hasni Al'Bura.
 * 2008 - A Swedish furniture store in a shopping mall located in St. Petersburg is bombed, 100 dead.
 * 2008 - FSB vehicle ambushed, 5 agents dead.
 * 2008 - Abduction and murder of SibGaz owner's wife and daughter.
 * 2009 - The offices of a U.S. oil company in Baku were bombed, 3 people dead.
 * 2009 - Bomb plot against English-speaking school in Moscow foiled.
 * 2009 - Soccer stadium in Moscow is rigged with explosives. Authorities burst a pipe to halt the match, denying publicity to Makarov.
 * 2009 - Trafficking of over $2,100,000 worth of weapons, drugs, and people.
 * Operations in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Kosovo (No Russian cutscene).
 * 2011 - Detonates a nuclear device, killing 30,000 U.S. Marines and countless others.
 * 2016 (Day 3) - Massacre at Zakhaev International Airport in Moscow, which provoked the Russo-American War (234 civlians, security, and FSB killed - according to Return to Sender cutscene)
 * 2016 (October 3) - Abduction of Russian President Vorskevsky, unknown number of FSO dead.


 * All of these attacks brings Makarov's death toll to over 31,540, maybe more with the three operations mentioned in the cutscene.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
"Revenge is like a ghost. It takes over every man it touches. It's thirst cannot be quenched, until the last man standing has fallen. The world's men of action will look and wonder... how it came to this. You may be able to destroy me, but the beast will eventually come for you."

- Vladimir Makarov

"The American thought he could deceive us. When they find that body...all of Russia will cry for war."

- Vladimir Makarov

"If you fight, I will fight back."

- Vladimir Makarov

"S Nami Bog (С нами Бог; God is with us)"

- Vladimir Makarov

"Remember: no Russian."

- Vladimir Makarov

"The world has been your battlefield. Everywhere you go, the blood of brothers and sons screams out against you. Perhaps you cannot yet hear it, because this soil is not your own. But you will...you will."

- Vladimir Makarov

"I have no patience for cowards."

- Vladimir Makarov to Joseph Allen (Alexei Borodin) in the level No Russian if the player runs away from Makarov and hides, he will come towards the player and melee them.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
"All warfare is based on deception. For years, the West hypocrisy has made the world the battlefield. The corrupt talk... while our brothers and sons spill their own blood. Deceit cuts both ways. The bigger the lie, the more likely people are willing to believe it. And when the nation cries for vengeance, the lies spread like a wildfire. The fire builds, devouring everything in its path. Ours enemies believe that they alone dictate the course of history. And all it takes is the will of a single man."

- Makarov, in the introduction to Modern Warfare 3.

"Один. Уничтожить вражную надежду на побеждение. (One. Destroy the enemy's hope for victory.)"

- Makarov, listing his first tactic in the America teaser

"Два. Используйте всё к своему преимуществу. (Two. Use everything to your advantage.)"

- Makarov, listing his second tactic in the England teaser

"Три. Воспользуйся слабостью своего врага. (Three. Use your enemy's weakness.)"

- Makarov, listing his third tactic in the France teaser

"Четыре. Атакуй с неожиданной стороны. (Four. Attack from an unexpected side.)"

- Makarov, listing his fourth tactic in the Germany teaser

"It doesn't take the most powerful nations on Earth to create the next global conflict. Just the will of a single man."

- Makarov on the reveal trailer for Modern Warfare 3

"You think I am mad. But soon, you shall see that every move, every strike, is meant to bring us to this."

- Makarov on the "Redemption" trailer of Modern Warfare 3

"The symbols you have always looked to for strength are smoltering in ruin. This is what your greed has brought you."

- Makarov in the launch trailer of Modern Warfare 3

"Captain Price. Hell awaits you."

- Vladimir Makarov

"Yuri my friend. You never should have come here."

- Makarov, before blowing up the building where Yuri and Soap were in

"Money can buy many things. Even power."

- Vladimir Makarov

"Goodbye, Captain Price..."

- Makarov's last words, before being wounded by Yuri and before being killed by John Price

"Understand this Yuri, this is only the beginning"

- Makarov says to Yuri after the nuclear detonation

Trivia

 * Makarov is the first of the Four Horsemen in the Ultranationalist party, and the only one who was still alive after the events of the first Modern Warfare. Before the reveal in Modern Warfare 3, the First Horsemen was thought to be simply Al-Asad's right hand man. In the photo depicting them, Makarov is crossed out.
 * During "No Russian", Makarov can be seen using his M4A1 one-handed, along with his Thumper.
 * Makarov's left eye is green and his right is blue, due to Heterochromia iridum.
 * His hair has gotten noticeably longer since Modern Warfare 2.
 * The 'Infamy' trailer, which Makarov narrates, was released on his birthday.
 * Makarov is the only one in No Russian without any visible tattoos. This can be seen in the bonus level "Museum".
 * According to a newspaper clipping in "Loose Ends", he was responsible for a bombing attack on London's Piccadilly Circus, as well as the GUM supermarket in Red Square, Moscow.
 * In the opening cutscene for "The Hornet's Nest", Ghost mentions that the only person Makarov hates worse than Americans is locked up in the Gulag, which could explain how Price got put into the Gulag, as Makarov possesses high influence in the Ultranationalist party.
 * No Russian is the only level where he makes an actual appearance in Modern Warfare 2. The rest of the game he is either mentioned or heard over the radio with Price in 'The Enemy of My Enemy'.
 * In Makarov's bedroom in the safe-house, there are two books, one titled Philosophy Politics and Poetry, as well as a picture by Gerard Van Honthorst. The painting is The Matchmaker.
 * In the trailers leading up to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3  many of the above quotes can be heard, but only a few appear in the game.
 * In the February 2010 issue of Game Informer, Makarov was ranked #4 on "Top 10 Villains of '09".
 * Makarov is the only main antagonist in the Call of Duty series who survives the events of his respective game.
 * In the Redemption trailer, Makarov is seen wearing the same clothes from "No Russian".
 * Makarov is the only final antagonist in a Modern Warfare game who was not killed by John "Soap" MacTavish.
 * He is the only antagonist to kill more than one playable character in all of the Modern Warfare series which are John "Soap" MacTavish, Yuri, Joseph Allen, Andrei Harkov and Paul Jackson.
 * Makarov's initials are "Makarov, V. R." in Modern Warfare 2, but are "Makarov, V. A." in Modern Warfare 3.
 * Makarov appears similar in appearance and behavior to the character of Ivan Korshunov in the 1997 film "Air Force One", played by Gary Oldman, who voiced Reznov and Clarke in World at War and Black Ops, respectively. Both have similar facial hair, are willing to kill anyone in the way of their goals, and have a pathological hatred for the West. Even more conincidental is that Makarov ordered the hijacking of President Vorshevsky's plane in Modern Warfare 3, which plays out in a strikingly similar manner to the film. They are also both, killed by a cord being wrapped around their neck and hung.
 * He shares much resemblance to his voice actor, Roman Varshavsky.
 * Makarov has killed the Player character, directly and indirectly, three times.
 * Makarov's death is similliar to Nikita Dragovich's death, as Price was knocked out (like Mason in "Redemption"), when Yuri appears (like Hudson in "Redemption"), and injures Makarov, (strikingly similiar when Hudson injured Dragovich), and both antagonists are choked to death by the protagonist.
 * Makarov is the announcer for the Inner Circle in Multiplayer of Modern Warfare 3.