Artem (or Artyom) Vladimirovich Zhoga (, ; born 18 January 1975) is a Ukrainian-born Russian military officer and politician serving as the Chairman of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic since 20 September 2023.
He is the current commander of the Sparta Battalion, a pro-Russian force that is involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War. His son Vladimir was the commander of the battalion from 2016 until his death in 2022.
Early life and pre-war period
Artem Zhoga was born in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR on 18 January 1975. His son Vladimir was born in 1993 and the family moved to Sloviansk shortly after. Prior to the start of the War in Donbas, Zhoga was engaged in business, managing several fish stores in the Slaviansk.
Russo-Ukrainian War
War in Donbas
Following the start of the War in Donbas, Zhoga and his son Vladimir joined the pro-Russian separatist forces and enlisted in the Sparta Battalion, becoming close friends with its commander Arsen Pavlov. Pavlov was assassinated in 2016 and Vladimir Zhoga succeeded him as the commander of the Sparta Battalion, with Artem being appointed the chief of staff of the battalion.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
In March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his son was killed in combat in the Battle of Volnovakha. Artem Zhoga succeeded him as the commander of the battalion.
He was among the speakers at the March 2022 pro-war rally in Moscow and stated that "our task is to liberate our land from Nazi people".
On 9 May 2022 for Victory Day, Zhoga met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow where his late son's Hero of the Russian Federation award was presented to him. On 30 September 2022, he was seen present in the front-row seating during Vladimir Putin's signing ceremony in Moscow Kremlin's St. George's Hall for the Russian Annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine.
On 15 September, Zhoga announced that an "eight episode series" that he was involved in making would premiere in a month. Called "FATHERS OF DONBASS" he described it as "A series about the strong spirit of people who resist global Nazism and win this difficult fight. They live and enjoy every day, give birth and raise children no matter what". He announced on his Instagram account that the series will premiere on October 15, 2023.
Political career
In 2023, Zhoga joined the ruling United Russia party and entered politics. In the 2023 Russian regional elections in the Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, Zhoga was elected member of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic. On 20 September, Zhoga was elected Chairman of the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic.