Oleg Goltvyansky, also known as Caesar of Liubotyn

Exclusive interview with the Caesar of Ukrainian intrigues.

Anyone who will enter Oleg’s name into search engines shall find a multitude of favorable and not so favorable opinions of him. Agent provocateur, SSU employee, combatant, formal and informal leader of several rightist and patriotic organizations in Ukraine. I knew his name since 2011. When he tried to incite skirmishes on public events of leftist organizations. He never caught me in the act. Thanks to keeping an eye on him, as well as on grant-seeking schmoozefest of Dmytro Symansky and Natalia Zubar, I knew about the inevitability of the second Maidan and its precise dates almost a year before the actual event.

AV: Hello, Oleg!

OG: Greetings, Anatoly!

Oleg as a journalist of local newspaper Time (Vremya), around 2011. Publication is not affiliated with the world-famous TIME magazine.

AV: What’s shaking? Anything to brag and complain about?

OG: I don’t like to brag and complain. It’s not in my character. Life as usual, with its white and black stripes. Of course, a lot has changed since we chased each other on the streets of Kharkiv. Our subculture wars seem so childishly naive today. We had nothing to quarrel over after all. «Rightist» and «leftist» radicals only have a few differences. They’re both passionaries. Unlike laymen, who care only about TV-set and refrigerator. Essence of ideologies is largely ignored by the majority of adepts from radical movements. It’s just that people need to blame someone and practice «martial arts» on someone they can find at the nearest backstreet. They won’t get those in power but will hurt their own kind. That’s how it is since society split between plebeians and aristocracy. That’s how it will be until we create some extremely just society or if this civilization dies.

Thankfully we never allowed ideological assassinations in Kharkiv. Because it is stupid to take a human life for not agreeing with your point of view. Unfortunately, this situation has changed in 2014. The beginning of war ended all games. Those whom we considered brothers have attacked our country. Russians took advantage of instability within our country and stole Crimea like thieves, despite being guarantors of our territorial integrity (according to Budapest memorandum - AV’s note). Afterwards they initiated the Donbas massacre, in order to distract people from returning the Crimea. This situation left no choice. The time came to take up arms and defend the Motherland. War put everything in its proper place and revealed everyone’s true nature. Just like in the song of «Komu Vnyz» band: «Who shall hide in the cellar and who shall brace the bullets?». I found myself in the zone of anti-terrorist operation from the starting days and continuing my service for eight years already, unlike many of my political competitors. I want peace despite managing to build an amazing military career due to the war. I’d rather see this shit end as soon as possible. But we were destined to be born in the epicenter of the Third World War, unfortunately, with all the consequences.

AV: Widely known that you were a member of the National Bolshevik Party once. Our fellow Kharkovite Eduard Limonov was one of its founders, as well as a childhood friend of my now deceased uncle, music composer Vladimir Belousov. But nothing is known about your relations with him. How closely did you knew each other and what kind of impression did he left on you?

OG: I was never a member of NBP formally. I’m just a friend of one of its former leaders - Sergey Lagoda. He proposed to take part in an anti-Putin rally in Moscow, in the autumn of 2006. I agreed to travel with him without hesitation. Back then we were already realizing that the Kremlin consists of enemies. In the middle of the ’00s «Another Russia» seemed the most radical force in the Russian Federation, one able to fight against Putin’s regime, so we decided to support these protests. I took part in numerous «Dissenters' Marches» and fought against OMON. With time it became apparent that Limonov is an agent of the Kremlin, who led radical Russian youth astray. I spoke with Eduard many times, just like with Korchynsky, Dugin, and other «chieftains» of that time. Limonov was unorthodox, creative, exciting during conversations. He could hardly achieve his successes otherwise. It is possible to rate the NBP activities differently depending on their stages. But one thing is certain — it was a powerful movement with its own sacral esthetics and Limonov as its eternal engine. Movement decayed as Limonov was decaying. Arrival of NBP’s «interbrigade» to Donbas became a real turning point. They became our enemies after that and we whacked them at first sight. So none of us mourned Limonov after his death.

NBP flags were rare oddities in Kharkiv and could only be seen in the company of CPU and PSPU flags. Today, public display of such symbolism is a criminal offense after the adoption of decommunization laws by the Poroshenko administration. My photo from the late 00s.

AV: Pro-Russian Stalinist organization «Labourist Kharkivshchyna» made smear campaigns against you, once upon a time. This organization - was it someone’s conscious attempt at discreditation of communist ideas? Or was its leader Pavlo Tyshchenko so profoundly dumb that he really did not realize that his senile grandfathers and grandmothers scare away the youth? Or was he only interested in small bounties?

OG: Ah, good old «Labourist Kharkivshchyna» and its great chairman Pashka (Oleg uses informal infantilization of the name here - AV’s note) Tyshchenko. Funny kids! They were my favorite victims. We often came to their rallies just to have fun. We first met them near the Oblast administration building during the shale gas protest. They thought we support them, they were helping us to set up our flags, and telling us how good we are. Only after we unfurled our banners they started raging and fighting. Intervention of the police saved them that day. Back then I supressed almost all organizations in the city, leftist and rightist alike. For real, we weren’t taking any nonsense from anyone and completely controlled the streets. Even Zhilin with his «Oplot» was afraid of skirmishes with my Ukrainian National Union and opted to share zones of influence with me. Since nobody could defeat me in open battle, my political enemies were forced to stick with smear campaigns. All sorts of lampoons were written about me. Was worried by this at first but then started laughing. I just was a hindrance to everyone and could not fit the rules of the game. I was bringing Roman Strigunkov and his Russian followers to pro-Ukrainian rallies, doing numerous visits to Russia for the same reason. Both inflexible Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian Ukrainian «vatniks» saw this as something incredible and going beyond their usual understanding of life. I loved breaking stereotypes and transcend frames. This position of mine was a nuisance for both. You won’t find as much black PR about any other political leader in Kharkiv. On one day I’m on the Party of Regions ballot, on another one I’m Feldman's friend. According to it, I’m gay, a PSPU member, an SSU operative, a Russian agent, an excessive smoker, and a drinker from what is seen on my Facebook. To put it short, all this filth is easily found on the Internet. Of course, all these fakes fall to pieces without harming me. Only cretins could believe their content. A sensible person will quickly understand that it is bullshit. Smear campaigns are useful to weak people and «Labourist Kharkivshchyna» was a champion in them. Remember now that they were pasting up posters with my photo across the city. And once I even saw handwritten anti-UNU leaflets. Writing leaflets manually? Now, this is revolutionary! Tyshchenko is a genuine fanatic. Waging wars against windmills for many years. Sadly, he has fewer and fewer accomplices each year. His comrades are leaving for socialist paradise, where Lenin and Nicholas II feast together. As for bounties, I doubt they existed. If they did then they were indeed small. If Scrooge McDuck had a dollar emblem in each eye, then Pasha had an emblem of hammer and sickle.

Part of the abovementioned poster with its creator on the lower right. Thanks to him and his octogenarian “accomplices” an entire generation grew up thinking that communism is something old, barely sane, and very unattractive.

AV: What is the real situation on the frontlines currently? What were you doing there recently and what are you planning to do? Commenting on one of my recent texts, Russian Imperialist blogger Kirill Kaminets said that «full-scale invasion will be ongoing for three weeks and it will end in 80% of Ukrainian population denying knowing the Ukrainian language». What would you reply to him?

OG: It is relatively calm on the frontlines at the moment and I don’t expect a full-scale invasion for the next two years. We’ll see after that. Currently, no side is interested in inflaming the conflict. Still, time works in our favor. Easier to say what I did not do during the years of service, the military identity card is fully filled. I’m a working horse with universal functionality, who pulls our country towards victory. I can dig the trenches or lead the squadron. I can write a top-secret concept, fire grenade dispenser from a strongpoint, or create an Islamic spy network in one of Russia’s autonomous republics. Sometimes I’m busy with secret operations on Ukrainian territory, the essence of which I’m not authorized to share. Nonetheless, news or managerial briefings report about the successful accomplishments of these missions from time to time.

As for the future plans, I will say this: I stay on duty and continue the work. Who is Kirill Kaminets? What did he see in this life so I should comment on his words? All plans are already written and maps are drawn. We aren’t afraid of Russians. They’re the same people from flesh and blood, they don’t want to die. It is just that they’re brainwashed by propaganda. They go fight caricatural Banderites, fascists, and then they’re shocked to be taken captive by simple Russophone men from Kharkiv or Donbas. They should have understood long ago that the war will continue as long as they keep coming, that it is Russians who are responsible for the blood of innocent children in Donbas. There wasn’t any war until Russians showed up, people lived in peace and relative prosperity.

Regarding the future big war, I’ll say this: first we will repel the invasion ourselves and then our allies will help us. Right now we have one of the most battle-ready armies in the world. Plus the 400K battle seasoned reservists. Who shall enlist once «vatniks» start torturing and killing their comrades on newly occupied territories. This war will be vicious but our eventual victory is assured. The entire progressive and civilized world is behind us, while our enemy is backed by savagery and Asian despotism. Good always triumphs over evil sooner or later. 8 years is a small term on the history scale. I frequently encounter opinion that the war should have ended after 4 years, like World War II. Why people are setting such terms? Jews are fighting Arabs for 70 years with intermissions and there is no end in sight for their war. Just like there, our war is civilizational. Just like in Palestine, this is a clash of West and East, civilization and savagery.

On duty.

AV: What kind of future do you and your people see for the Russian Federation? The intellectual leader of Kharkiv’s «Freikorps» Bohdan Voytsekhovsky told me in December of 2020 that its breakup will begin soon and their only hope for keeping the country together is Ramzan Kadyrov. And our role, according to him, is to annex its Slavic parts to Ukraine. Is your vision any different?

OG: The future of the Russian Federation is in the great family of European peoples and in NATO. United States isn’t interested in the breakup of Russia. If the USA had to destroy Russia this would have been done very quickly. Russia is a colossus on clay feet and a raw material colony of the West. Its economy is dependent on natural resource trading. In terms of technology, Russia is already behind not only the West but also Eastern Asian countries. The socioeconomic situation in Russia also leaves a lot to be desired. So it is not really difficult to break down Russia. But what the USA will gain from this? The USA lacks mutual land borders with Russia in order to annex its territories. Russia can’t compete with the USA for global dominance, while China can. China has land borders with Russia and China is very interested in annexing Siberia. By doing so China could get the natural resources necessary for becoming the world hegemon. So American task is not to destroy Russia but make it a Western ally and force it to fight China. In this case, Ukraine is a tool of leverage against Russia. Upcoming years shall witness the appearance of new tools. The States did not leave Afghanistan for no special reason. Now the Taliban will set its eyes on Central Asia and Russia will be forced to react, as this is their zone of influence for now. Also, I think a new frontline on the Caucasus will be opened. No matter how the Russian elites try to make the ends meet, they will be forced to comply. Of course, maybe we will be able to annex some part of Russia during the inevitable period of instability. But as TV anchor Kanevsky was saying in «Investigation is led by...» program: «This is an entirely different story».

AV: Do you agree with Mao Tse Tung’s saying «everything which is thinkable is doable»?

OG: Won’t agree with Mao. It is not always possible to materialize your wishes in life. There are many variables that can play dirty tricks with you. As it is said in the song from my favorite Soviet cartoon «Treasure Island»: “And when you are two steps away from the heap of fabulous riches, a tricky chance says to you: God will give alms”. I felt this many times. Still, with my way of life it is a miracle that I was able to live until 40. As I lived through ten assassination attempts, was surrounded, walked across grey zones and enemy territories. As in the saying: “Legs carried through, the Gods helped through”. I haven’t earned any riches though, just served through faith and truth.

AV: Tell me about «sketchy» stories related to the «Pechersk» battalion, which you led, and an assassination attempt on the former interior minister Arsen Avakov.

OG: What’s sketchy about them? Voluntary battalion «Pechersk» was created in the summer of 2014 for the specific task of carrying out special operations in the zone of anti-terrorist operation. Initially, it was led by captain Igor Panov, who was a very experienced intelligence officer and helped to educate us. After he left for the «Crimea» battalion, I accepted the duties of commander. We were carrying out battle operations in Luhansk oblast. When I came back from rotation in the December of 2014, I discovered that captain Igor Yakymchuk became a combatant. Battalion experienced a split in the February of 2015 due to financial problems. Financing was carried out at expense of my enterprise and a few other private companies. Part of the crew went with me to the «Slobozhanshyna» battalion. Others created the Municipal Guard of Pechersk District at first and then went to the Third special ops regiment, after the incident near «Arsenalna» subway station in Kyiv. Regarding the latter, I want to clarify some things, as this story was distorted by crooked journalists. Media insisted that battalion «Pechersk» villains attacked an honest businessman. In truth, combatants acted on behalf of the Pechersk district administration, with whom we worked in 2014-2015. Coffee machine was installed near the subway illegally and the boys did everything right. But journalists distorted everything and my political competitors tied me to this story, despite me being in Kharkiv at the time. Where I was busy getting stuck in Avakov’s story. During one of the special operations, we had to send two pro-Russian people to Russia for getting the money and information about weapon caches in the Kharkiv oblast. People were used in an unwitting fashion to make sure that they will stick to the legend even in case of arrest and torture by FSB. However, one of these two «pro-Russians» taped us and gave these tapes to the SSU in Kyiv. After this, I was under investigation for one year, together with Yangolenko. And then I returned to the army, where I was honored to take part in the creation of Special Operations Forces.

AV: Who do you think «removed» all separatist «romantics»? Givi, Motorola, Zhilin, Mozgovoy, «Batman» and others. As it is, I can believe in Ukrainian trace only in Motorola’s case. As for others, it is suspiciously logical and useful for the Kremlin that manageable Pushilin outlived all others to become the governor of DPR. He won’t say anything without direct orders from above for sure. But maybe you will bring more light to this question.

OG: I know who eliminated «romantics» but aren’t authorized to talk about this. I will only mention Zhilin as his death falls out of context. This was not related to politics. He was killed because of money. He began to enter criminal and economic schemes in Moscow, after relocating there. Everything is already divided there and locals don’t like outsiders who want a piece of the pie. Zhenya (once again he uses a friendly form of the name - Evgeny - AV’s note) almost abandoned politics at the time of his death. He wasn’t taking part in the war, unlike other leaders of the so-called Russian World. He made a few pictures on the tank and went back to Moscow.
 

AV: Question which I already asked my sister and planning to ask everyone who will appear in this blog in the future. Name three books, three films, and three songs which influenced you the most.

OG:

Books: «The Bible». We keep an antique Bible in our family as a relic. I loved looking at its illustrations as a kid before I could read. I liked the part about Joshua the most, it contained lots of pictures depicting war. Somehow I always liked war and wanted to become militant since childhood. Sadly, not everything is timely in our life and war only began when I was a relatively mature man. Had it begun earlier, I would surely reach the general rank. World religions remain one of my favorite subjects, after history still. «History of the Middle Ages for 7th grade» made me love history. Once I found it in my barn by chance. Liked to look at pictures as well, and then read it as soon as I was able to. Afterward, I knew history better than all my classmates in school, peers in technical college, and academy. Today I know the history of all countries in the world. I’m learning the history of Africa and Oceania with great care. Wrote several treatises on the history of the state and the law of foreign states. Third one -«Kobzar». I got acquainted with «Kobzar» in the 6th grade during the Ukrainian literature lessons. This powerful book left a lasting impression on me and filled my heart with the national idea. Some poems from «Kobzar» I recite even today.

Films: «Fight Club» - manual on creation of a counter-systemic organization, which helped me during the creation of the Ukrainian National Union. «Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door» - classics, a film about the futility of life with the main motto – «Memento mori». I cried for the first time at the end of this film. «Officers»  - excellent Soviet film about true male friendship, which stood against the tests of time and war. Looking at it from the heights of my lived experience I understand what our grandfathers had to endure at the beginning of the 20th century. Won’t tell much about these films but I recommend them!

Songs: «For whom the bell tolls» by Metallica. This is the song that started my career as a musician in a far away 1995. Imagine this, I was a rock musician once. My rock-n-roll past helped me a lot. Since rockers live according to the motto «Live grandly - die young». «Everything goes according to plan» - now it is especially relevant to me. «And my fate wanted to rest, I promised her not to participate in the war game, but hammer and sickle and star are on my cap, how touching it is - sickle and hammer and star...» These verses were written by Egor Letov in 1986. I heard them for the first time at the end of the 90s but their essence I only truly understood lately. Because the rest is calling but the past doesn’t let go. «Oh, on the mountain the reapers are reaping» - cossack song which became my hymn. Blood of Zaporozhian and Kuban cossacks runs through my veins. They were passionaries and fought for Motherland, so I’m continuing their fight. I know many Ukrainian songs and often sing them on the frontlines for my comrades. Songs helped us in difficult times and in happy hours.

AV: What are your expectations about the next Verkhovna Rada? Which new political forces do you expect to see? Many parliamentarian parties are currently on the verge of a split due to different reasons. Do you expect new parties to be formed around personalities, ideologies, or financial interests? Do you plan to ballot anywhere yourself?

OG: To be honest, I’m not keeping an eye on the Ukrainian political scene for a long time already. Ukrainian politics was dirty before but now it is a complete chapiteau circus. All this political swamp is sheer deception. Parties come and go, new bloodsuckers take the power from old ones, but the cart has completely collapsed and the land under it is already on the market. There are no positive changes in the country. The economy is falling. The authorities no longer know what to invent in order to suck the last funds out of the people. So far, I do not see the possibility of changes for the better. The so-called "Ukrainian political elite" is not Ukrainian at all. Therefore, they can afford to rip off our last shirt and reduce the population by tens of millions. This already happened on this territory in the 8th century, only on a smaller scale. During the last 30 years, the population of the country was reduced by 20 million people. Such a genocide is unheard of in history.

My opinion is that only the military will be able to restore order in this country. This will happen after a full-scale invasion begins and martial law is declared. The bloodsuckers will immediately flee the country when they smell fire. Then we will come and will build a new, clean Ukraine. Where there will be no such oligarchic chaos, but there will be an iron order. As for me personally, I refused to participate in the elections last year, although I had one of the highest ratings in the city. And my effectiveness as a representative in the city council of Liubotyn was even rewarded with a diploma. One term was enough for me to understand that nothing can really be solved at the local level and the country needs global changes. I am in favor of a strong centralized government, strong security services, and a strong army.

In the economic area, I support protectionism or even a planned economy. Because at this stage our economy is simply outcompeted. It is necessary to develop science and raise the education level of the population. Our science was destroyed. Without technology, our products cannot be competitive in the world market. In the agricultural sector, we need a complete inventory accounting of the lands. Where a private farmer can prosper, let him prosper. Where he cannot, collective farms must be made. It is necessary to create infrastructure in the villages so that people won't leave. For the development of agriculture, small-scale mechanization and the growth of livestock are required.

In the foreign policy, I support Intermarium instead of the European Union. EU is a clunky assortment of states with completely different interests, with a heap of their own problems and contradictions. Unity is simply not there and the majority of its members do not understand Ukrainian problems. Nobody expects us there! We are understood by the Baltic countries and Poland. They also had their fair share of Russian aggression. That’s why it will be easier for us to unite economically and culturally with them. I hope that in time this union will be joined by Belarus, Slovakia, Moldova, and Georgia. Others may follow after. Territorial, medical and educational reforms proved ineffective in our conditions and provoked a deep crisis. Western and Eastern approaches aren’t suitable. Ukraine requires a third way - Ukrainian people’s socialism.

AV: Whom would you want to see in my blog in the future?

OG: Famous Ukrainian historian, civil activist, advisor to the Head of the SSU of Ukraine - Volodymyr Omelchuk.

AV: Thank you for the answers!

OG: Always available and glad to see old acquaintances!