Vladimir Makarov isn't just a name. For anyone who stayed up way too late in 2009 playing through a certain airport terminal in Moscow, that name is a visceral memory. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trigger for the "No Russian" controversy that nearly broke the gaming industry.
But here is the thing: most people think they know Call of Duty Makarov, but they usually mix up the two distinct versions of the man. We have the original, unhinged strategist from the 2011 trilogy and the more grounded, tactical "Czar 9-0" from the 2023 reboot. They aren't the same person. Not even close.
The Original Monster: Why 2009 Makarov Was Different
In the original Modern Warfare 2, Makarov was basically a ghost. You didn't see him every five minutes. He wasn't some generic boss you fought at the end of every level. He was a protégé of Imran Zakhaev, but where Zakhaev wanted to restore the Soviet Union, Makarov just wanted to watch the world burn. Or, more accurately, he wanted to burn the West to build a new Russian Empire on the ashes.
The "No Russian" mission is the definitive moment for this character. People forget the logic behind it. It wasn't just mindless violence; it was a cold, calculated false flag operation. By leaving an American CIA agent (Joseph Allen) dead at the scene, Makarov tricked Russia into invading the United States. He started World War III with a single elevator ride.
A Resume of Terror
If you look at his "career," it’s actually horrifying. We aren't just talking about one airport. According to the deep lore and in-game intel:
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- He bombed a London Underground train in 2001, killing hundreds.
- He orchestrated the "No Russian" massacre that sparked a global war.
- He detonated a chemical bomb in London (again) and gassed most of Europe in the original MW3.
- He personally executed Soap MacTavish.
The original Call of Duty Makarov was a man who traded blood for money and power. He didn't care about flags. He only cared about his "Inner Circle."
The 2023 Reboot: A Different Kind of Threat
Fast forward to the modern era. When the 2023 Modern Warfare III dropped, fans were divided. This new Makarov, played by Julian Kostov, feels... different. He’s more of a professional soldier and a CEO of a private military company (Konni Group) than a rogue terrorist hiding in the shadows.
In this timeline, he has a callsign: Czar 9-0. He’s slicker. He wears suits. He has tattoos. But is he as scary?
Some fans say no. They call him "baby-faced." But if you look at his actual actions in the new games, he's arguably more efficient. He doesn't just want a war; he wants to discredit the West entirely. He’s a "Jingoistic Mastermind" who uses chemical weapons from General Barkov's old stock and frames the Urzikstan Liberation Force.
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The biggest shocker? The 2023 version actually succeeds in killing Soap in a much more intimate, brutal way—a point-blank shot during a bomb defusal in the London Underground. It wasn't an explosion from across the street. It was personal.
Comparison: Tactical Brilliance vs. Raw Chaos
If we’re being real, the two versions represent different eras of storytelling.
The old Makarov was a "Bond Villain" turned up to eleven. He had a private army, a hidden castle in Prague, and an almost supernatural ability to be everywhere at once. He died being hung by a helicopter cable in Dubai by Captain Price. It was cinematic and over-the-top.
The new Call of Duty Makarov is a product of modern geopolitics. He runs the Konni Group like a business. He uses deepfakes, misinformation, and proxy wars. He doesn't just want to blow things up; he wants to be the one holding the pieces when the world falls apart.
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Interestingly, the reboot gives him a tragic backstory. He found his father—a disgraced USSR politician—hanging from a ceiling after the Soviet collapse. It explains the chip on his shoulder. It makes him human, which, in some ways, makes him even more unsettling.
The "No Russian" Legacy in 2026
Even now, years after the original controversy, the impact of that mission defines the character. In the 2023 reboot, they did a "soft" version of it on a plane, but it didn't have the same cultural weight. The original was a moment where gaming grew up—or at least, it was the moment where it pushed the boundaries of what a player should be "forced" to experience.
Makarov is the only villain in the franchise who feels like a genuine match for Task Force 141. Men like General Shepherd are traitors, and villains like Raul Menendez are driven by grief, but Makarov? He’s pure ideology.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to truly understand the depth of this character beyond the memes and the "No Russian" clips, you need to dig into the secondary materials.
- Play the "Intel" missions: In the original MW3, the intel files reveal that Makarov was actually being investigated by the UN for "cleansing" operations in Chechnya before he ever met Zakhaev.
- Watch the "Operation 627" cinematic: It’s the prison break mission in the 2023 game. It shows how the Konni Group views him—not as a leader, but as a messiah.
- Compare the deaths: Watch the final scene of the 2011 MW3 and the mid-credits scene of the 2023 MW3. One is an ending; the other is a terrifying "to be continued."
The reality is that Call of Duty Makarov remains the gold standard for FPS antagonists because he isn't just a guy with a gun. He’s a guy with a plan that usually works. Whether you prefer the unhinged anarchist or the cold-blooded commander, he's the reason Captain Price hasn't slept in twenty years.
To get the full picture, go back and read the in-game newspapers in the original Modern Warfare 2 safehouses. They detail his rise from a paratrooper to a global pariah, and it’s some of the best world-building Activision has ever done.