Makarov's Network

A Russian ultranationalist terrorist freed in 2023 to ignite World War III.

Vladimir Makarov stands as the central antagonist of the rebooted Modern Warfare timeline, a Russian ultranationalist and terrorist orchestrating a campaign to trigger a third World War. In November 2023, his organization, the Konni Group, raids the Zordaya Prison Complex in Verdansk, Kastovia, successfully freeing Makarov after he was sentenced to life imprisonment by SAS operatives John Price and John "Soap" MacTavish following a 2019 attack at the Verdansk Stadium. Now leading this renewed threat, Makarov commands a network of extremists and mercenaries intent on destabilizing global order through calculated acts of violence against both East and West.

Quick Facts

Leader: Vladimir Makarov
Primary affiliation: Konni Group; Russian Ultranationalists
Origin: Russia (Kastovia/Zordaya Prison)
Key adversary: Task Force 141

Lore & Background

Makarov's resurgence begins when the Konni Group raids Zordaya Prison Complex in Verdansk, Kastovia, on November 2023. Having been captured by Task Force 141 during a 2019 terrorist attack at the Verdansk Stadium, Makarov is freed to resume his plan for global chaos. The network immediately strikes an Urzikstan port, attempting to steal ballistic missiles from Shadow Company before they can be secured by the Urzikstan Liberation Force (ULF). When Konni forces fail to secure the missiles entirely, Makarov adapts by destroying a Kastovian airliner with a vest bomb forced onto a former ULF fighter.

He further refines chemical weapons hidden in an abandoned nuclear power plant left behind by General Roman Barkov, detonating gas to thwart Task Force 141's intervention near Price. Makarov's strategy involves manipulating geopolitical tensions; he captures General Herschel Shepherd from a Siberian convoy, using him as leverage to force Shepherd to reveal plans for destroying the Gora Dam in Verdansk. When his agents attempt to control the UK train network via a stolen flash drive, Makarov targets the Channel Tunnel with a dirty bomb.

His actions are designed to force superpowers into conflict while he remains elusive, only confronting Task Force 141 directly when necessary. In London, after ambushing Price and Soap in the tunnel, Makarov executes Soap by shooting him in the head before escaping with Ghost and Kyle Garrick arriving too late to prevent it.

Reader's Guide

Makarov operates through the Konni Group, a private military contractor that functions as his primary operational arm in the rebooted timeline. Key targets include the Zordaya Prison Complex for liberation, Urzikstan ports for missile theft, and critical infrastructure like the Gora Dam and Channel Tunnel. His tactics involve using human shields (the airliner passenger), chemical warfare (Barkov's materials), and hostage situations (General Shepherd) to force Task Force 141 into reactive positions.

To counter Makarov, players must follow Task Force 141's pursuit across multiple locations: Verdansk for the prison raid and Arklov Base, Siberia for the Shepherd rescue, and London for the Channel Tunnel defense. The network relies on flash drives to control infrastructure and uses Konni operatives like Andrei Nolan as logistical nodes. Players can track Makarov by intercepting his financiers, such as Milena Romanova in Saint Petersburg, or by securing intel from captured assets.

The ultimate goal is preventing the destruction of the Gora Dam and stopping the dirty bomb plot before it triggers World War III.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Makarov escape prison in 2023?

The Konni Group executed a raid on the Zordaya Prison Complex in Verdansk to free Makarov after he was imprisoned by Task Force 141. This liberation marked the beginning of his renewed campaign against global stability.