The militia fighter and commander of the DPR “Sparta” battalion, Arsen Pavlov (known by his call sign “Motorola”), was killed on October 16, 2016, in an explosion in the elevator of his residential building at 121 Chelyuskintsev Street in Donetsk.
An improvised explosive device had been attached to the elevator cable. Pavlov’s bodyguard, Teimuraz Gogiashvili, was also killed.
The DPR authorities blamed Ukrainian special services for the assassination of Motorola.
He was buried with military honors in Donetsk. Several thousand Donetsk residents came to say goodbye to the famous militia member.
RUSSIAN MEDIA
After the DPR Ministry of Defense confirmed Motorola’s death, RIA Novosti reported: “Commander of one of the militia units of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Arsen Pavlov, known by the call sign 'Motorola', was killed on Sunday in Donetsk.”
TASS described Motorola as one of the most well-known and mythologized figures among DPR fighters and ran a feature: “'The Russians are here, so I came too': who is Motorola and how did he become a famous fighter?”
Vesti.ru called Motorola the “Che Guevara of Donbas” and covered his journey: “Motorola gained fame from the early days of the war. Thanks to a small camera mounted on his helmet, the whole world saw raw footage from the frontlines of the civil war—uncensored and real.”
RT Russian confirmed the commander’s death: “On October 16 in Donetsk, one of the commanders of the militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Arsen Pavlov, call sign Motorola, was killed.”
Izvestia analyzed the reaction from the breakaway republics and possible consequences: “The murder of ‘Sparta’ battalion commander Arsen Pavlov, known as Motorola, will escalate the situation in eastern Ukraine. The next step may be active military operations from the Ukrainian side.”
Interfax summarized the key facts: “On Sunday evening, in the elevator of his home on Chelyuskintsev Street in Donetsk, militia commander Arsen Pavlov was killed. Preliminary data show a homemade bomb went off. He was at the epicenter and died instantly.”
Donetsk News Agency published a brief headline: “In Donetsk, Hero of the DPR Colonel Arsen Pavlov has been killed.”
Lugansk Information Center relayed condolences from the LPR leader: “I wish to express my sincere condolences to all residents of Donbas—in both the DPR and LPR—following the tragic death of one of Donbas’s most renowned and outstanding commanders, Arsen Pavlov, known by the call sign 'Motorola'.”
TASS described Motorola as one of the most well-known and mythologized figures among DPR fighters and ran a feature: “'The Russians are here, so I came too': who is Motorola and how did he become a famous fighter?”
Vesti.ru called Motorola the “Che Guevara of Donbas” and covered his journey: “Motorola gained fame from the early days of the war. Thanks to a small camera mounted on his helmet, the whole world saw raw footage from the frontlines of the civil war—uncensored and real.”
RT Russian confirmed the commander’s death: “On October 16 in Donetsk, one of the commanders of the militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Arsen Pavlov, call sign Motorola, was killed.”
Izvestia analyzed the reaction from the breakaway republics and possible consequences: “The murder of ‘Sparta’ battalion commander Arsen Pavlov, known as Motorola, will escalate the situation in eastern Ukraine. The next step may be active military operations from the Ukrainian side.”
Interfax summarized the key facts: “On Sunday evening, in the elevator of his home on Chelyuskintsev Street in Donetsk, militia commander Arsen Pavlov was killed. Preliminary data show a homemade bomb went off. He was at the epicenter and died instantly.”
Donetsk News Agency published a brief headline: “In Donetsk, Hero of the DPR Colonel Arsen Pavlov has been killed.”
Lugansk Information Center relayed condolences from the LPR leader: “I wish to express my sincere condolences to all residents of Donbas—in both the DPR and LPR—following the tragic death of one of Donbas’s most renowned and outstanding commanders, Arsen Pavlov, known by the call sign 'Motorola'.”
Western Media (Europe and the US)
The Guardian suggested the death was likely not the work of Ukraine: “Observers say the 33-year-old died either in an internal dispute or as part of Russia’s campaign to eliminate ‘inconvenient’ separatist leaders.”
The Telegraph implied who might have ordered the hit: “Though Pavlov was hailed as a hero on Russian state TV, he had become a burden for Moscow due to war crimes accusations.”
The New York Times noted the internal motivations for the killing: “Though praised as a hero by Russian state media on Monday, Mr. Pavlov had become a liability due to war crimes allegations.”
Le Figaro made sure to highlight his nationality: “To pro-Kremlin media and separatists, Pavlov—born in Russia 33 years ago—was a hero. But most Ukrainians saw him as a symbol of brutality and Russian expansionism.”
El Mundo explored who may have been behind the killing: “Separatists called it a declaration of war by Ukraine. Motorola’s death could reignite a conflict that had quieted since last year. His assassination was a 'terrorist act' carried out by Ukrainian forces.”
Postimees (Estonia): “In Donetsk, separatist leader Motorola was killed.”
Delfi.lt (Lithuania): “In the DPR, Pavlov led a separatist unit. He took part in battles at Ilovaisk, Debaltsevo, and Donetsk Airport. He was on the EU sanctions list.”
The Telegraph implied who might have ordered the hit: “Though Pavlov was hailed as a hero on Russian state TV, he had become a burden for Moscow due to war crimes accusations.”
The New York Times noted the internal motivations for the killing: “Though praised as a hero by Russian state media on Monday, Mr. Pavlov had become a liability due to war crimes allegations.”
Le Figaro made sure to highlight his nationality: “To pro-Kremlin media and separatists, Pavlov—born in Russia 33 years ago—was a hero. But most Ukrainians saw him as a symbol of brutality and Russian expansionism.”
El Mundo explored who may have been behind the killing: “Separatists called it a declaration of war by Ukraine. Motorola’s death could reignite a conflict that had quieted since last year. His assassination was a 'terrorist act' carried out by Ukrainian forces.”
Postimees (Estonia): “In Donetsk, separatist leader Motorola was killed.”
Delfi.lt (Lithuania): “In the DPR, Pavlov led a separatist unit. He took part in battles at Ilovaisk, Debaltsevo, and Donetsk Airport. He was on the EU sanctions list.”
Ukrainian Media
TSN reports: “The ‘DPR Ministry of Defense’ confirmed the death of one of the group’s leaders, Arsen Pavlov, nicknamed ‘Motorola’.”
Ukrainska Pravda gives context: “In occupied Donbas, ‘Motorola’ led the illegal armed group ‘Sparta Battalion.’ He claimed to have executed 15 captured Ukrainian soldiers. Amnesty International called for an investigation. In 2015, Ukraine requested Interpol to issue a warrant, but was denied.”
Depo outlines his biography: “After 2014, with Russia’s aggressive campaign in Donbas, the name ‘Motorola’ became synonymous with murder, torture, and violence. He was a Russian mercenary and fanatic who became one of the field commanders of the separatist quasi-state known as the ‘DPR’.”
Ukrainska Pravda gives context: “In occupied Donbas, ‘Motorola’ led the illegal armed group ‘Sparta Battalion.’ He claimed to have executed 15 captured Ukrainian soldiers. Amnesty International called for an investigation. In 2015, Ukraine requested Interpol to issue a warrant, but was denied.”
Depo outlines his biography: “After 2014, with Russia’s aggressive campaign in Donbas, the name ‘Motorola’ became synonymous with murder, torture, and violence. He was a Russian mercenary and fanatic who became one of the field commanders of the separatist quasi-state known as the ‘DPR’.”