Victor Zakhaev

For other uses, see Viktor and Zakhaev.

For the character in the reboot, see Victor Zakhaev (Reboot).

For the achievements named "The Third Horseman", see Achievements/Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Achievements/Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

Victor Zakhaev
Alias(es)	Third Horseman Daddy's boy (by Griggs)
Appears in	Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (cutscene only) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (cutscene only) Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (pictured only) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (cutscene only)
Nationality	Soviet (1971-1972–1991) Russian (since 1991)
Affiliations	Ultranationalists The Four Horsemen
Rank	Commander of the Ultranationalist armed forces
Gender	Male
Status	K.I.A.
Killed By	Himself with a M1911 (Suicide via self-inflicted gunshot to the head)
Birth	1971 or 1972
Death	Day 5, 2011, Volgograd Outskirts, Russia (aged 39 or 40)
Build	Athletic
Hair	Brown
Eyes	Blue
Relatives	Imran Zakhaev (father)
Weapons	M9, M1911 .45, Mini-Uzi, AK-47, RPG-7
Voice Actor	Jordan Marder
Level	The Coup The Sins of the Father Ultimatum (cutscene and mentioned only)

"Zakhaev's son. Commander of the Ultranationalist forces in the field. Rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

— John Price

Victor Zakhaev (Russian: Виктор Захаев) was the son of Imran Zakhaev and field commander of the Russian Ultranationalists. His relationship with his father is apparently very close and it can be assumed they share the same ideals, mainly of Russia returning to a Soviet-style government. He is easily recognizable by his blue-striped tracksuit. He is also one of the Four Horsemen, and he serves as the tertiary antagonist in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. He leads the group forces of the Ultranationalists in the field and has fought against the Russian Loyalists and their western allies in his father's quest to restore Russian power and influence to the days of the Soviet Union.

Biography

Early life

Not much is known about Victor's early life other than that he was born in Russia to Imran Zakhaev and an unnamed mother. He was born sometime between 1971-1972 during the days of the Soviet Union and eventually witnessed the downfall and collapse of the communist regime and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He was close with his father and joined the Ultranationalist Party following its formation sometime in the 1990s to restore Russian power.

Al-Asad's coup

To distract the attention of the United States and the United Kingdom to win over the Russian Loyalists, Victor and his father made a deal with Khaled Al-Asad to start a coup in his country to distract the United States. It began with the nationally broadcasted execution of President Yasir Al-Fulani. Victor was in Saudi Arabia during the execution of Al-Fulani, riding along with him in the car that delivers him to the presidential palace and his eventual death, directing the driver and holding a Mini-Uzi.

Targeted in Russia

"And the little punk'll know how to find Zakhaev."

— Griggs

After the death of Al-Asad at the hands of Captain John Price, Imran Zakhaev goes into hiding. Despite this, his son continues to directly lead the Ultranationalist forces in Russia. The S.A.S. and U.S.M.C. form a joint operation with the Loyalists to stop both Zakhaevs. While Victor is driving through a checkpoint formerly held by Ultranationalist forces, he is ambushed by the joint task force of S.A.S. and U.S.M.C. operatives that had killed the real checkpoint officers and disguised themselves in their Ultranationalist uniforms during the level "The Sins of the Father". In a state of confusion, he rams his car into a watchtower that Staff Sergeant Griggs and Sergeant Soap are shooting from, causing it to collapse. Victor survives the crash, as well as Griggs and Soap, and the pair take off to chase him through the abandoned outskirts. He stops for a moment at a town held by Ultranationalist troops and takes the opportunity to fire back on his chasers, shortly before running again. After making a near-escape, he is eventually cornered in a five-story building by the combined forces of the S.A.S. and U.S.M.C and becomes trapped on the rooftop.

Suicide and Death

"Вы всё равно все скоро сдохнете... (You will all die soon anyway...)"

— Victor's last words.

As S.A.S. operative John "Soap" MacTavish tried taking his weapon and restraining him, Victor committed suicide, shooting himself in the head with an M1911 pistol. Lieutenant Gaz was upset as Victor had been Bravo Six's only lead on Imran but Price knew Zakhaev would be upset over his son's death. His official cause of death, as reported by the Pentagon, was "a car accident outside Volgograd" as revealed in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Victor's death deeply affected Imran, who takes over an ICBM Missile Silo in the Altay Mountains and launches two ICBMs at the United States' East Coast in retaliation. He also laments in an ultimatum to British and U.S. forces that "Our blood has been spilled on our soil. My blood... on their hands... they are the invaders...", in a trembling, angry voice. The Ultranationalists took over Russia and eventually restored the country's power and influence on the world stage.

Gallery

Victor was behind Imran on all Four Horsemen

Victor driving a UAZ-469

Victor Zakhaev in The Coup in the original Modern Warfare game.

Victor Zakhaev before his death

Zakhaev killing himself

Victor Zakhaev's corpse; note the M9 in the holster

A military capture of Victor Zakhaev

The same military capture, from Modern Warfare Remastered

Zakhaev kneeling and wielding a suppressed Mini-Uzi

The original version of "The Third Horseman" achievement, depicting Victor's face

The Remastered version of "The Third Horseman" achievement, depicting Victor's tracksuit

Victor's corpse in the cutscene of Ultimatum in Modern Warfare Remastered

Trivia

• In the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 introduction, instead of saying "My blood... on their hands...", Imran says "My son's blood... on their hands...".
• In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the official Pentagon statement says Victor Zakhaev was killed "in a car accident outside of Volgograd".
• If the player shoots him, no matter where, his name will turn green.
• Victor's jacket is very similar to a jacket worn by Sasha, the main antagonist that appeared in the movie Behind Enemy Lines.