The Russian reconnaissance platoon commander dubbed the ‘champion’ looter of the war in Ukraine has been pictured for the first time.
Yevgeny Kovalenko, 27, was caught sending almost half a tonne of stolen goods back to his homeland including music speakers, tools, a table and a tent.
He was among a group of 16 Russian “marauder” troops who reportedly sent a collective two tonnes of booty back to Russia.
The group appeared to take the items from Ukrainian homes and shops in Bucha and other occupied locations near Kyiv as war trophies.
Married Kovalenko, known as Major Looter, sent 440kg back to his family as seen in pictures.
“The record for the number and weight of parcels is held by Yevgeny Kovalenko, 27….he tried to send home 17 parcels with a total weight of 440kg," reported the Dossier Centre, which tracks criminal activity of Kremlin associates.
Earlier this month, Kovalenko was seen at a courier company in Belarus sending the booty back to his hometown of Rubtsovsk in Siberia, according to the Russian opposition media outlet.
Now pictures have emerged of his wife Margarita, 24, and their family.
His consignment was reportedly addressed to Margarita, a graduate of the Altai State University of Culture and formerly a clothing retailer.
CCTV footage shows troops posting goods back to their homes in Russia at the CDEK express delivery service, highlighted by Belarusian Telegram channel Belaruski Hayun.
The troops returned to Belarus from Putin’s attempted thrust to take Kyiv which was later abandoned due to heavy Ukrainian resistance.
“More than two dozen soldiers pass through the office during the broadcast,” the Dossier Centre reports.
“Chevrons of Russian troops on their uniforms are seen. The Russian soldiers had just returned to Belarus. It is unlikely that they had time to legally buy these tons of goods.”
Asked once how he gained the respect of his subordinates in the guards, he said by “being a role model”.
He graduated from the Novosibirsk Military Institute of the National Guard.
Later in 2018 he was sent back to his hometown Rubtsovsk as a reconnaissance platoon commander in a reconnaissance company of the national guard, a service headed by Vladimir Putin.
Now pictures have emerged showing the ‘champion looter’ with his family.
He is seen with wife Margarita, recipient of the goods, whose social media has been deleted possibly due to the mega-looting scandal.
Their wedding pictures in 2017 have emerged as well as a picture with his parents. The couple are also seen relaxing in a jacuzzi and enjoying Christmas.
Kovalenko serves at military unit 6720, part of the 656th Regiment of Operational Designation of the Russian Federal Guard Service.
Another serviceman named Nikolai Stepanov sent air conditioners back to his home town in the Russian Far East, it was reported.
Many others sent tools and clothes.
