Bratislav Živković was the commander of the Chetnik Movement paramilitary formation, which was recently killed in the battles around Kursk. Živković fought for years on the side of pro-Russian separatists in the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraine.
The Russian authorities did not officially confirm his death, but his sister did so in a post on Facebook, in which it is stated, among other things, that Živkovic died a "heroic death" and that his life was "filled with courage, unshakable faith in ideals and selfless love for fellow human beings ", as well as that he "tirelessly stood behind what he believed in".
The Chetnik movement he commanded is part of the extreme right-wing organization Unité Continentale, and Živković fought on the side of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine in 2014 and 2015.
He was arrested in Serbia in 2018 on suspicion of organizing the participation of Serbian citizens in the war in Ukraine, for which he offered them 200 euros per month. However, the prosecutor's office suspended the investigation against him the following year.
Allegedly, Živković also had Russian citizenship, but he emphasized that Russia was not involved in the activities he was engaged in. According to unconfirmed information, the salary of 200 euros that Živković paid to volunteers from Serbia was not provided by Russia, but by the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
"The Specter of War in Human Form"
Immediately after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, Živković attracted the attention of the media, among other things, with his appearance.
The reporter of the German weekly Zeit who met him in Crimea in March 2014 described him as follows.
"That 39-year-old man looks like a specter of war in human form: long hair, thick beard, jet black hair, just like his coat, on his shoulder is a badge with a golden skeleton head...".
Živkovic then told the journalist that his friends who are fighting in Sierra Leone are contacting him and asking him if they should come to Crimea. He replied that there was no need for that because "he and his Chetniks keep things under control."
"We are not dogs of war," said Živković at the time and emphasized that the fighters from Serbia "only want Crimea to return peacefully to Russia, where it belongs."
Invitation to Vučić for a TV duel
His involvement, as well as that of numerous other Serbian citizens in the war in Ukraine, attracted the attention of the local authorities, so the then Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić stated that in the war in Ukraine "dozens" of people were fighting as mercenaries on behalf of both sides. That is why Vučić called them to return to Serbia, "to take care of their families and country, and not to fight for anyone's interests."
Since the amendments to the Criminal Code, which stipulate prison sentences for citizens of Serbia who participate in war or armed conflict in other countries, or who organize and recruit other citizens of Serbia for those conflicts, were only adopted in October 2014, Živković did not mind returning to Serbia. whenever he wanted to.
At the time, Živković was so sure that he would be exempt from prosecution that at the end of July 2014, in an open letter to the Serbian authorities, he invited Vučić to a TV duel, with the aim of "the people deciding whether they should sentence us to exile or death". At the time, he claimed that he would prove that his fight against "Nazi units" in eastern Ukraine was "just and honorable."
He never hid his participation in the conflicts in Ukraine, and he even stated for Radio Free Europe that he was the leader of one of the detachments of Serbian volunteers in Ukraine called "Saint Prince Lazar". They came to Luhansk in Ukraine via Russia with ordinary tourist visas.
According to his own admission, in Ukraine he fought against the "Ukrainian Guard of Fascists from the 'Right Center'" and a group of "volunteers" from Serbia, which had 35 members, and which was called "Jovan Šević Detachment".
"Spying" in Romania
In 2017, Živković was banned from entering Romania, and then other NATO members for the next 15 years, due to espionage and because he poses a threat to national security. After that, he went to Bulgaria and then to Russia.
Sources from the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) confirmed that Živković was at least preparing for espionage, and left Romania shortly after trying to photograph "secret documentation on the radar system in Satu Mare".
However, according to the Romanian media, there was nothing secret in the documents that Živković believed to be confidential and they were planted by the Romanian service in order to confirm Živković's interest in military infrastructure.
Živković stayed in Romania five times in 2017 alone. Each time he came from different directions, by train and plane. According to the media and people from the security structures, he was interested in military and civilian radar systems, as well as military bases in the southeastern part of Romania.
Detention then reality TV
When the part of the Criminal Code on participation in war in other countries or recruiting others to participate in such wars finally began to be applied, it also affected Živković, who was arrested in August 2018 for these criminal acts.
However, after an investigation that lasted for eight months, Živković was released, and he replaced the detention cell with another type of imprisonment, because as a "celebrity" who has something to show vain viewers, he became part of the reality show "Couples" on TV Happy. Just before entering the reality show, he bragged about his illegal activities and exploits, and he introduced himself as a "Chetnik and journalist".
"I am a Chetnik commander, I helped the Russian people in Crimea in Ukraine." Well, I also do journalism, I am an accredited journalist in Russia. I also wrote a book," said Živković at the time.
As a man with "experience" from the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, Živković was a guest on TV Happy where he talked about the war.
There he was presented as "the only living Chetnik commander in the 21st century", with claims that "Russia is helping the people in Donbass", and that the Americans' only interest is "to fight there".
With decorations and the Chetnik symbol in front of Putin
In the same year, in 2022, it was announced that he was seriously injured and being treated in Moscow, and after that he appeared in public in February 2023, when he attended the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Then he came to the hall with crutches and was dressed in a military uniform with numerous decorations and a Chetnik symbol on his sleeve. Although he was known for his huge beard, he cut it short for the occasion.
The last time Živković was mentioned in public was because of the alleged relationship between mercenaries from Serbia who are at war against Ukraine. He was then mentioned on his YouTube channel by Dejan Berić, whom Deutsche Welle writes is a "sniper who has gained the status of an icon in the east of Ukraine." Because of Berić's statements, Živković allegedly sued him.
"Bratislav Živković is suing me for insulting honor and dignity." And when he went to court, he made a video next to the court and said that now he will intelligently destroy me. He is constantly provoking, trying to provoke me into hitting him; of course, he doesn't succeed. He promised to kill me when the judge came out, he's just waiting for the court to finish. Who can do that? This can only be done by a man who is sure that, even though he is not wanted here, he will be safe in Serbia," Beric claimed in a video on YouTube.
About death only on social networks
Apart from his sister's post on Facebook, the death of Živković is known only from posts on Russian Telegram channels and other social networks, in which it is stated that he was killed in the battles in Kursk. Official Russian authorities have not announced anything.
The Ukrainian army invaded Russia's Kursk region at the beginning of August 2024, and in the first days of 2025, Ukraine began new offensive actions in order to maintain control over the territories it captured. What is particularly interesting about that area is that the Ukrainian authorities claim that for the first time soldiers from North Korea who were sent to participate in the war on the side of Russia were captured in that region.
