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20 Notorious Russian Gangsters & Mobsters

Originally published by Purity on April 6 2023 and updatedted by Vanessa M in March 2024

The world of crime is surely not an easy one, even for criminals themselves. The streets and highways of the underworld are painted with gruesome violence, brutal tactics in the fight for control, corruption, betrayal, blackmail, and murder just to mention a few. Tough skin and gut are a prerequisite to staying in the game, and Russian gangsters have gained notoriety for their ‘hard-core’ reputation. Indeed, some have become synonymous with immense power, violence, and inexplicable wealth.

Over the years, they have gained global reach, with numerous connections all over Europe and Asia. They run multi-million dollar international syndicates, carrying out various forms of crime from drug and human trafficking to money laundering and extortion. Some have come face to face with the law, others have met their deaths in the underworld, and some are still on the run. Here’s a list of 20 notorious Russian gangsters and mobsters to take note of.

1. Semyon Mogilevich

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Mogilevich is known by many names, including ‘Boss of all bosses’, ‘The Brainy Don’, and Don Semyon. He is considered by the FBI as one of the most powerful and dangerous mobsters in the world, having numerous connections with prominent politicians, government officials, law enforcement, and military officers across the globe. He’s also known for his business acumen, hence the nickname, Brainy Don. Having built a multi-billion dollar international crime syndicate, and running most Russian mafia organizations, he is undoubtedly one of the most powerful Russian organized crime bosses alive.

  He is known to have alliances with political figures such as the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Leonid Derkach, Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash and former mayor of Moscow  Yury Luzhkov. Mogilevich has been associated with large-scale fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion in addition to arms, drugs, and human trafficking. In 2009, he was placed by the FBI on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List but was removed from the list in 2005  citing that he was staying in a country with which the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty. For over a decade, countries have tried to prosecute him to no avail but in early 2022, the U.S. revised its effort to apprehend Mogilevich, offering a reward for any information leading to his arrest.

Read more on 20 Most Famous Gangsters of all time.

2. Alexander Solonik

Solonik was known as the Superkiller, true to his notoriety as a hitman in the Russian criminal underworld. He was born on 16 October 1960 and expressed interest in firearms at an early age. Soon after his education, he joined the Soviet Army and served in the tank regiment. After his time in the army came to an end, he later returned to his birthplace in Kurgan and married. In 1987 however, he was charged with rape and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. This marked the beginning of a chain of events that eventually saw him turn into a hitman in the Russian mob. In prison, fellow inmates planned to kill him since he had worked for the police and the army previously. Solonik was however strong and aggressively defended himself, eventually earning respect from the inmates.

 He escaped prison after serving two years and joined a local criminal organization. His first hit was a leader of a rival gang, whom he took out in 1990. In 1992, he killed Russian thief-in-law Viktor Nikiforov, and yet another mob boss barely half a year later. Soon, Solonik had gained a notorious reputation in the Russian criminal underworld, and law enforcement agencies had taken note of him. He escaped severally from prison and eventually fled to Greece, where he established his gang of around 50 men. They smuggled drugs and carried out contract killings.  Solonik was eventually strangled to death by another Russian hitman, Alexander Pustovalov on 31 January 1997.

3. Sergei Mikhailov

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Sergei is a Russian mob boss and leader of the Solntsevskaya Bratva. The latter is a Russian crime syndicate that he founded in the 1980s with its base in Moscow. It is still active, and at some point in the 80s, it was linked to Russian mobster Semion Mogilevich, who claimed to launder money for the gang.  Sergei was a waiter before he entered the criminal world in 1987. He had been convicted of fraud before that. In the 1990s, his gang sent Russian gangster Vyacheslav Ivankov to Brighton Beach, New York City to establish control over the Russian mob in the United States.

Sergei was arrested on 16 October 1996 in Geneva but was later acquitted after two years in jail awaiting trial. One of the witnesses, Vadim Rosenbaum was killed before he could testify. Presently, the gang continues its racketeering operations, money laundering, and other criminal activities.

Read more on; Top 10 Facts about the Russian Mafia.

4. Vladimir Kumarin

Kumarin is a Russian mob boss of the Tambovskaya Bratva, also known as the Tambov Gang. The latter is based in Saint Petersburg in Russia. It is believed to have been formed in 1988 by Kumarin and Valery Ledovskikh, who were from Tambov Oblast hence the name. His involvement with organized crime gained him notoriety, especially after his revealed connections with the political elite in Russia.  For instance, he was believed to have had alliances with Anatoly Sobchak, then mayor of St. Petersburg. Extortion, racketeering, and money laundering are some of the criminal activities he took part in within the gang.

He was arrested in 2007, and an investigation was launched. During this time, he donated generously to society in an attempt to gain popular approval and clean up his image. He was nevertheless sentenced to 14 years in prison for fraud, money laundering, and a murder attempt. In 2011, his sentence was reduced by 2.5 years, and in 2012, another investigation into his case began. He was again accused of contracting the murder of Galina Starovoitova, a former Russian ethnographer and advocate for democratic reforms in the country. In 2019, Kumarin was sentenced to 24 years in prison for forming the Tambov Gang.

5. Vyacheslav Ivankov

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Also known as Yaponchik, translated to mean Little Japanese due to his Asian-looking facial features, Ivankov was one of the most feared and influential Russian gangsters in the 1990s. Born in 1940 in Russia, he began his criminal career in the 1970s, getting involved in extortion and racketeering before becoming an enforcer of the Solntsevskaya Bratva. The latter is one of the top Russian organized crime groups established in the 1980s. Ivankov was known for his violent tactics when executing his targets.

He was sent to the United States to take control of the Russian mob there in the early 1990s. In 1995, he was arrested and charged with money laundering, sentenced to 10 years in prison, where he continued to exert influence over the Russian criminal underworld. Having left prison in 2004, he returned to Russia and continued his operations. He died in a drive-by shooting in 2009, in Moscow. The incident is believed to have been connected to a rivalry in the Russian mob underworld. Ivankov, though notorious for violence and crime, he was known as a charismatic person with Robin Hood-like tendencies.

6. Evsei Agron

Evsei was born in 1932 in Leningrad and was one of the top Russian-American gangsters known as founding members of the Bratva or Russian Mafia. He moved to the U.S. in 1975 and rose through the ranks in the criminal underworld to become one of the most renowned New York gangsters of his time in the 1970s. Known for his brutal tactics, he was often referred to as the Godfather of the Russian- American Mafia.

 Evsei engaged in various criminal activities including gambling, extortion, loan sharking, and drug trafficking. He quickly became wealthy and powerful, but remained a controversial figure, especially among the Russian Americans who accused him of perpetuating the negative stereotype that they were criminals. Evsei was killed in 1985 in an attack believed to have been a rival gang target over his criminal empire. He was succeeded by Marat Balagula as the Russian mob boss in the U.S.

Check out the 10 Most Famous Mafia Gangsters of all time.

7. Boris Nayfield

Also known as Biba, Boris Nayfield is a former Belarusian-Russian mobster featuring in the plane of the New York criminal underworld in the 1980s and 1990s. Born in 1947 in present-day Russia, he moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s as a Soviet Jewish refugee and entered the world of crime almost immediately.  He became a bodyguard to then-Russian mob boss Evsei Agron and later an enforcer for Marat Balagula. His criminal profile includes racketeering, drug trafficking, and extortion. He was also involved in the heroin trade, smuggling the drug from Thailand to the U.S.  Boris has since faced numerous arrests throughout his criminal career, and he served many years in prison.  He has been described as the Last living boss of the Russian-American mob. He still spots a clean-shaven head and bold tattoos on his arms and chest.

8. Marat Balagula

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Marat was a Ukrainian-born, Russian-American organized crime figure, and one of the most powerful gangsters in New York City in the 1990s. Born in 1943 in present-day Ukraine, he later settled in the U.S. in the late 1970s. Settling in Brighton Beach, where Russian mob boss Evsei Agron operated, Marat got assistance in expanding his criminal operations and evading taxes. Soon enough, he rose through the ranks in the criminal underworld, engaging in extortion, drug trafficking, and racketeering.

 He was involved in large-scale gasoline bootlegging operations in the city, alongside money laundering and tax evasion. When Evsei died, he took up his position in the criminal underworld. His enforcer Boris Nayfield was however suspected of killing Evsei. It did not take too long before his criminal activities caught the attention of law enforcement and investigations into his empire began. Marat would eventually have to flee the U.S. to avoid arrest but in 1989, he was arrested at an airport in West Germany. He was convicted in November 1992 for gasoline bootlegging. He was released in 2004 from prison, and he refused to cooperate with the FBI the entire time. Marat died from cancer in 2019.

9. Monya Elson

‘Monya the Jew’, as he was also known, was one of the most notorious Russian mobsters in the 1980s. He mainly operated in New York City, after migrating to the U.S. in the late 1970s. His involvement in the criminal underworld and engagement with the Bratva saw him take part in an array of criminal activities including narcotics, racketeering, and extortion. His brutal tactics and ease in employing violence to get his way made him one of the most feared crime figures of his time. He was also known for his lavish living, flaunting cars and designer wear, expensive parties, and everything else that came with it. He was arrested in 1995 while trying to flee the country and convicted of extortion and murder.

Read more on 10 Most Notorious New York Gangsters.

10. Ludwig Fainberg

Yet another Russian-American gangster, Ludwig Fainberg was one of the major players in the criminal underworld in the United States where he had migrated to in the 1980s. He dealt in arms, drug trafficking, and money laundering, among other criminal activities. His nickname ‘Tarzan’ is attributed to his strong form and wild persona, just like the movie character. Fainberg was also involved in several high-profile cases, including the Brighton Beach case in the 1990s. The case exposed a key Russian organized crime operation in New York. He was then arrested in 1997 for smuggling and racketeering.

11. Aslan Usoyan

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Aslan Usoyan, better known as “Ded Khasan” (Grandpa Khasan) was a powerful and feared crime boss in the Russian underworld. He led the Kutaisi criminal organization, a potent faction within the vory v zakone (thieves-in-law) hierarchy.

Usoyan’s criminal empire spanned Russia, Georgia, and other former Soviet republics, and included activities such as extortion, racketeering, and contract killing.

His authority and brutality earned him respect and fear from his fellow mobsters. Despite numerous attempts on his life, Usoyan survived until 2013, when he was assassinated in Moscow, signaling the end of an era for Russian organized crime.

12. Igor Sechin

Igor Sechin, a powerful figure in Russian politics rather than a traditional mobster, is the CEO of Rosneft, the country’s largest state-owned oil company. Sechin, who previously worked in intelligence, has been linked to allegations of corruption and questionable business practices.

He is well-known for his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, and he wields significant power in Russia’s energy sector. He has been accused of using strong-arm tactics to further political and economic interests. Sechin’s controversial reputation extends beyond his corporate role, raising concerns about corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of the Russian government.

13. Ivan Todorov

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Ivan Todorov, also known as “Little Ivan,” was a Bulgarian mobster linked to Russian organized crime. He was involved in a variety of criminal activities, most notably drug trafficking, which helped to build illicit trade networks. Todorov’s connections in the Russian criminal underworld increased his power, allowing him to navigate complex criminal operations.

His involvement in transnational crime demonstrated the interconnectedness of organized crime groups. Todorov’s actions highlighted the difficulties that law enforcement faces in combating cross-border criminal networks, as well as the complex relationships that exist between individuals involved in illegal enterprises. Because of the limited public information available, specific details about his life and criminal activities may differ.

14. Zakhariy Kalashov (Shakro Junior)

Zakhariy Kalashov is a Georgian-Russian mobster known for his involvement in extortion, racketeering, and other illegal activities. Kalashov was born in Georgia and rose to prominence in the Russian Mafia, establishing himself as a formidable figure. He was connected to a variety of illegal activities, including organized crime operations in Moscow.

His criminal empire included extortion schemes against businesses and criminal rivals. Kalashov’s influence extended across borders, demonstrating the transnational nature of his illicit activities. He has been arrested several times and faces legal consequences for his involvement in the complex world of organized crime.

15. Leonid Minin

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Leonid Minin was a notorious figure in the Russian criminal underworld, known for his involvement in money laundering and fraud. Details about Minin’s life are frequently shrouded in mystery, reflecting the covert nature of organized crime. His connections in criminal circles facilitated illegal financial activities, highlighting the link between organized crime and economic fraud.

The specifics of Minin’s criminal enterprises, including his level of involvement in money laundering, are unknown due to the clandestine nature of such operations and the scarcity of public information. Legal authorities have attempted to dismantle his illicit networks to combat financial crime.

16. Dmitry Yakovlev (The Italian)

Dmitry Yakovlev, also known as “The Italian,” was a Russian mobster who engaged in a variety of criminal activities, including drug trafficking and racketeering. His criminal enterprises extended throughout Russia, indicating a strong presence in organized crime circles. The nickname “The Italian” likely refers to his alleged connections or affiliations.

Yakovlev’s involvement in the lucrative drug trade and racketeering activities boosted his status in the criminal hierarchy. Yakovlev, like many of his contemporaries, operated in the shadows, making detailed information scarce, but his criminal activities established him as a key player in the complex and clandestine world of Russian organized crime.

17. Sergei Timofeyev

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Timofeyev, a St. Petersburg native, rose to prominence as a powerful vor v zakone (thief-in-law) within the Tambov crime syndicate. His criminal empire involved a wide range of illegal activities, including extortion, racketeering, and money laundering.

Timofeyev’s influence grew beyond Russia’s borders, as he formed alliances with international criminal syndicates. Despite his alleged involvement in several high-profile crimes, he evaded law enforcement for years, cementing his reputation as a formidable and elusive mobster in the Russian mafia scene.

18. Oleg Deripaska

Oleg Deripaska is a Russian oligarch best known as a prominent businessman and the former head of RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers. Despite his business success, Deripaska has been accused of ties to organized crime and questionable business practices. Accusations include links to criminal organizations and the use of strong-arm tactics in the workplace.

Deripaska’s controversial reputation has sparked scrutiny and legal challenges in Russia and around the world. The oligarch’s complex relationships and business dealings highlight the intricate links between powerful individuals, businesses, and organized crime in Russia’s political and economic landscape.

19. Gennady Petrov

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Gennady Petrov is a Russian figure linked to money laundering and organized crime who has engaged in a variety of illegal activities. Petrov was linked to the infamous Tambovskaya-Malyshevskaya criminal organization and engaged in financial crimes, racketeering, and extensive involvement in the shadowy world of international organized crime.

He was accused of orchestrating a money-laundering scheme involving the Bank of New York in the late 1990s, and he faced legal consequences in Russia and Spain. His case highlighted the global reach of Russian criminal networks, as well as the relationship between organized crime and the international financial system.

20. Viktor Bout

Viktor Bout, dubbed “The Merchant of Death,” is a Russian arms dealer known for his extensive involvement in illegal arms trafficking. Bout operated globally, supplying weapons to conflict zones and armed groups, earning a reputation for inciting violence and instability.

His intricate network facilitated the illegal trade of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, which fueled numerous geopolitical conflicts. Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States, where he faced charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. In 2011, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, demonstrating the global reach of his illegal activities.

Russian mobsters and gangsters continue to feature in discussions over the criminal underworld and transnational organized crime. The aforementioned are just but a few of the famous names involved in the world of crime, which continues to evolve over the years.