Viktor Zolotov

Viktor Zolotov was appointed Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation (Rosgvardia) by President Vladimir Putin. The new force was created from internal troops and other security units, tasked with public security, counterterrorism, and protecting the regime.

Zolotov deployed National Guard units to suppress large-scale protests across Russia against the government's pension reform, which raised the retirement age. The force used crowd control measures, including detentions and dispersal, to maintain order, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

Zolotov commanded the National Guard's involvement in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including combat operations, occupation duties, and suppression of resistance. The force was accused of human rights abuses, including summary executions and torture, in occupied territories.