Svetlana Chernitskaya (Russian: Светлана Черницкая, Svetlana Chernitskaya) (AKA " Natasha Lenkov") was the handler and fiancée of former KGB hitman and Russian arms dealer, Anatoly Zhukov in Paris in 1999. She is Jennifer Shepard's archenemy/killer and the archenemy of Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Michael Franks.
Biography
Pre-Series
In 1999, Svetlana Chernitskaya was the fiancée of contract assassin Anatoly Zhukov, for whom she also acted as a handler. She and Anatoly were targeted by Riley McCallister after Anatoly failed to assassinate Leon Vance in 1991. Jenny Shepard was tasked with assassinating her in Paris, but she failed to kill her despite her mission. She took the name Natasha Lenkov, working as a owner for an import-export company, and hatched a plot to avenge Anatoly's death. Svetlana spent years searching for Anatoly's killer, until McCallister gave her the name William Decker nine years later. With the help of Viggo Drantyev, a mercenary working with her, she captured Decker and tortured him into giving up a name. Decker gave "Oshimaida" before dying, which, unbeknownst to Svetlana and her men, was a code to warn Jenny.
NCIS Season 5
Svetlana and Viggo went to Decker's funeral to find "Oshimaida" but found nothing. Jenny was present and, understanding the code, took pictures of Svetlana and Viggo in the car. Later, Svetlana sent her men to extort the address of the mission reports, including the one about Anatoly's murder, from Decker's girlfriend, Sasha Gordon. To cover her tracks, Gordon was killed. She sent her men to Decker's restaurant, but all were shot dead by Jenny, who also died of her injuries. Mike Franks, who was acting as Jenny's bodyguard, killed the last surviving mercenaries, including Viggo, then returned to Mexico after warning that Gibbs was next on Svetlana's list. After tracking him down at Jenny's house, she held him up at gunpoint, demanding to know if he was the one who killed Anatoly. When he asked who he was to her, she replied that he was the man she loved. As she was about to kill Gibbs, Franks appeared behind her and shot him in the back. To cover up Jenny's death, Gibbs and Franks set Jenny's house on fire, including Svetlana's body, both to make it look like Jenny's and to ensure it would never be discovered.
Personality
Svetlana was vengeful and ruthless, murdering the people responsible for her fiancé's death. She clearly loved Anatoly and was ready to avenge him. She was patient, as evidenced by the fact that she waited nine years to kill the people who murdered Anatoly.
Physical Appearance
Svetlana Chernitskaya was a woman of average height, with white skin, blue eyes and blond hair.
Known Victims
The following were targets/victims of Svetlana and her hit squad:
- William Decker- (murdered with his death being disguised to make it look like he had suffered a heart attack).
- Sasha Gordon- (died after suffering a broken neck, having been pushed off a parking lot).
- Jennifer Shepard- (Attempted to kill via a group of assassins but Jenny managed to kill them all although she was left injured during the gunfight and died from her wounds seconds later).
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs- (attempted to personally kill herself, but was shot by Michael Franks).