Anatoly Zhukov (or "The Russian") was a hitman for the KGB and later arms dealer and assassin for hire as well as the fiance of Svetlana Chernitskaya.
Biography[]
Pre-Series[]
Anatoly Zhukov was a KGB hitman known as "The Russian." He led a team of assassins, selling their services to the highest bidder. To gain information on his targets, he paid local sailors from the countries they visited to scout them. In 1991, he kidnapped an Israeli sailor, bleeding him dry to obtain his information. That same year, in Amsterdam, he was paid by Riley McCallister to assassinate Leon Vance, allowing McCallister to secure a high-ranking position within NCIS. He was closely followed by "vacationing" Mossad officer Eli David, who had been unofficially tasked with killing him. He gave Zhukov Vance's real identity so that he could send his hit team to Vance's house and kill him. After these men were killed in a trap set by Vance and David, Zhukov disappeared. After the fall of the communist regime in Russia, he became an arms dealer and assassin for hire. Eight years later after the events of Amsterdam, McCallister oversaw an operation to kill Zhukov and his fiancée, Svetlana Chernitskaya, and cover his tracks. The agents in charge of the operation, which took place in Paris, were Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Jennifer Shepard, and William Decker. Zhukov was shot three times, including once in the head, in downtown Paris by Gibbs with a silenced pistol, but Jenny let Svetlana escape, lacking the courage to kill her.
NCIS Season 5[]
Nine years after Anatoly's death, Svetlana was manipulated by McCallister into finding Jenny, now director of NCIS, and killing her. Svetlana's goal was to avenge Anatoly, the love of her life. With the help of mercenaries, Svetlana succeeded in killing Jenny, but not before eliminating the entire assassination team. She later attacked Gibbs and, when she asked him who he was to her, revealed that Anatoly was her everything. She was shot in the back by former NIS agent Mike Franks before she could fully exact her revenge.
NCIS Season 8[]
Three years later, McCallister tried to kill Vance again after Vance and David arranged a conference to reveal the details of the events in Amsterdam, thus risking McCallister's exposure. David explained the events in Amsterdam, and later, Zhukov was identified by Gibbs as "The Russian." McCallister confessed everything to Vance as he tried to kill him but was stabbed by Vance in self-defense.
Personality[]
Zhukov was a particularly effective, brutal, and ruthless hitman. He was willing to kill to gain information on his targets and never stopped until he had killed his targets. He was described as "a good little communist." He had a tender side, such as the fact that he seemed to love Svetlana deeply.
Physical Appearance[]
Anatoly Zhukov was a tall, white-skinned man who was completely bald. In 1991, he had a medium-brown beard, but by the time of his death in 1999, he was completely shaved.
Known Victims[]
The following were targets of his hit teams:
- Unnamed Israeli sailor- (kidnapped and bled to death to obtain information).
- Leon Vance- (attempted to kill, ultimately failed).