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This article is about the GRU colonel Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin. You may be looking for his father Boris Volgin.

"This is war, Major. A Cold War, fought with information and espionage. We must root out spies wherever they hide. It is kill or be killed. Potential threats must be weeded out."
―Volgin to Ocelot[src]

Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin (Russian: Евгений Борисович Волгин), also known as Thunderbolt, was a Soviet GRU colonel, who conspired with the Brezhnev faction and the military in the 1960s to overthrow Nikita Khrushchev and seize power.

With funding from the Philosophers' Legacy, Volgin established the huge fortress of Groznyj Grad, where he had the nuclear-armed Shagohod developed. A physically imposing figure, his body also carried a permanent electric charge, and he specialized in electric shock attacks.

After being burned alive during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin's comatose body was retrieved and experimented on by Soviet scientists. His desire for vengeance kept him alive for many years, and through the psychic influence of Tretij Rebenok, he awakened as the Man on Fire and set out to enact his revenge.

Biography[]

Early life and career[]

Volgin was born sometime between 1905 and 1914, and later became a boxing champion as a young adult.[2] During World War II, he served in the domestic branch of the Soviet Secret Police, NKVD, stationed at the rear of the Red Army, and charged with punishing deserters.

During the war, Volgin gained a reputation as the most brutal and cold-blooded of the Soviet spymasters. He took part in the Katyn massacre, in which the NKVD murdered over 20,000 Polish officers, where he often removed the prisoners' blindfolds before beating them to death, placing the blame on a prisoner revolt to allay any fears. He was also implied to be involved in similar massacres in Ukraine and Belarus during anti-guerrilla operations, boasting afterwards that he had personally "disposed" of over 100,000 anti-communist activists.

Volgin was later involved in putting down the unrest in East Germany in 1953 and Hungary in 1956.

Volgin GRU.

Volgin alongside some GRU soldiers.

Prior to 1964, Volgin learned of the Philosophers' Legacy following his father's death, and illegally inherited a microfilm containing records of the enormous cache of funds.[4][5] After then-President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, and Khrushchev's resulting weakening, Volgin then conspired with the Brezhnev faction, anti-government groups, and the military to overthrow the Khruschev regime and seize power via installing Leonid Brezhnev and Alexei Kosygin in his place. Volgin later used the Legacy, as well as the help of the anti-Khrushchev faction led by Brezhnev, to construct the Groznyj Grad-fortress in the mountains of Tselinoyarsk as well as convert an abandoned prison facility into the Granin Design Bureau, and presumably procured the blueprints for the Objekt 279 tank, after the project was shelved for being too costly. He used the Legacy to build at least eight of them.[6] He also hired Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin to develop his designs for a walking tank when Khrushchev sided with Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov's Shagohod. However, after it became apparent that Granin's idea was not producing the results he desired, Volgin was forced to turn to Sokolov's Shagohod idea, despite the latter being on Khrushchev's side.[7]

At some point, Volgin became acquainted with GRU major Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov, who became his favorite soldier, as well as his lover. In large part because of this, he protected Raikov from the hands of the Soviet military tribunal, regarding the latter's frequent abuse of the soldiers under his command.

Operation Snake Eater[]

See also: Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater


The Boss and Colonel Volgin

Volgin accepted The Boss's defection to his unit.

Volgin, under the rank of Colonel, contacted The Boss on July 24, 1964 using a Philosophers' spy network suggesting that she defect to the Soviet Union in order to overthrow Khrushchev without endangering his position in GRU. The Boss accepted the offer, although he did not realize that this was actually intended by the U.S. Government in a plot to gain his Philosophers' Legacy, as well as inadvertently exposing the Shagohod's development, or at the very least large details of its development, to the government. A month later, he was present during the Virtuous Mission, where he supervised the formal defection of The Boss to the Soviet Union, and more specifically to his unit. He also ordered The Boss to kill Naked Snake to silence him because he saw his face, and because The Boss refused to let him join them. Unbeknownst to him, however, Snake survived being thrown into the river. Two hours later, Volgin's forces attacked the Design Bureau and successfully seized the Shagohod. Volgin then surveyed the gifts from The Boss: A Davy Crockett launcher and one of the two shells, while celebrating his successfully getting the Cobra Unit to join his side.

However, Major Ocelot then directed his attention to a woman on board named Tatyana. Volgin then decided to keep her due to her being "quite a catch." He also forcibly confiscated a kiss of death from her, but gave it back to her as he viewed her as useful. Unfortunately, Volgin, in a move seemingly not anticipated by the U.S. Government, had shortly thereafter fired an American-made Davy Crockett at Sokolov's research facility, destroying it in a nuclear explosion as he felt they no longer had any use for it, and "framing" the U.S. for the whole ordeal.[8] He also did this with the intention of making the intelligence agencies believe that The Boss was the one who launched the nuke at the Sokolov Design Bureau rather than himself.[9] This sparked an international incident, and began Operation Snake Eater. He then forced Sokolov to continue with the Shagohod project, alongside several other scientists and engineers, forcing them to continue work for a week. He planned to use it to not only launch a nuclear strike against America, but also mass-produce the weapon throughout the Eastern Bloc, as well as orchestrate various uprisings throughout the world to fan the flames of war.[10]

During the operation, Volgin was constantly enraged at Naked Snake's actions, and of the actions of a spy among their ranks. He was unaware that the spy he hated was in fact Sokolov's supposed lover Tatyana, a woman he constantly abused. At one point, Volgin threatened Sokolov, when the scientist showed resistance to completing the Shagohod, by electrocuting Tatyana in front of him. When The Boss reported to him that The Pain had died, this greatly angered him enough to punch part of the wall to Ponizovje's warehouse. Volgin then dragged Tatyana off so she could "entertain" him until the rain stopped. He also suspected Granin of being the spy in his ranks, and had him arrested and then tortured him by trapping Granin inside a drum can. He then frequently punched and kicked it with his electrical and physical abilities, killing Granin in the process before he could talk, with the beatings being severe enough that the drum can eventually started having an ample amount of Granin's blood seep out. Volgin discovered a transmitter inside Granin's shoes, meaning the latter was either the spy or that it was planted on him without his knowledge. After Ocelot expressed disgust at both his pointless slaughter of Granin and for the incident with the Davy Crockett earlier, Volgin arrogantly dismissed his protest by citing his being in charge, and also proceeded to sarcastically suggest that Ocelot report him to the authorities before lecturing him about how, due to it being a Cold War fought with espionage and information, it is necessary to root out any and all spies, as well as chastising Ocelot regarding his feelings due to it being a threat to the Soviet Union's existence before reiterating that there was indeed a spy within Groznyj Grad. When Ocelot tried to protest again, Volgin then sternly revealed that the C3 cache had been stolen from the armory, and knew Snake wasn't the culprit since he hadn't reached the fortress, before The Boss, delivering bad news about The Fear and The End's demise, chastised Volgin about suspecting his own men, to Volgin's fury. The Boss then implied that Snake was after the Philosopher's Legacy, causing Volgin great concern, as well as that Snake was about to kill her. He also ordered a Hind helicopter and additional manpower to patrol Krasnogorje to heighten its defenses against Naked Snake infiltrating Groznyj Grad.[11] He later sent Flame Troops to Krasnogorje to roast Snake alive as revenge for his killing off The Pain, The Fear, and The End.[12]

In his fortress of Groznyj Grad, Volgin found and captured Naked Snake, however, when Snake disguised himself as Volgin's lover, Raikov, in order to find Sokolov (he deduced that he wasn't Raikov because Raikov and Naked Snake's testicle sizes were different[13]). After discovering Snake, he proceeded to beat him to a pulp for attacking Raikov. After Snake was knocked unconscious, Volgin took Snake to an interrogation cell. He then proceeded to interrogate Sokolov over who Khrushchev's "lapdog" was and who he gave the Shagohod data to, but apparently killed him from the beatings. He then proceeded to torture Snake through electrocution and beatings. While torturing Snake (which was proving ineffective, as Snake was mentally trained as a FOX operative and The Boss's protégé to resist physical torture), a transmitter fell out of Snake, and he discovered that The Boss had planted it in him, supposedly for the Cobra Unit ambush him.

He told her to cut out his eyes to prove that she wasn't the spy in his ranks. Tatyana intervened, which prompted Ocelot to threaten her by juggling his pistols and firing. Snake saved Tatyana by shoving Ocelot, but the bullet he fired grazed his right eye, blinding him in that eye. Satisfied with Snake losing at least one eye, Volgin departed, and Snake was taken back to his cell. As Volgin intended to continue his torture of Snake at a later point, he also allowed Snake to retain his medical kit so he could dress his injuries, as well as his radio for unknown reasons.[14] For the same reason, he also threatened the stationed guard, Johnny, with execution should Snake die before he could continue his torture. Snake, however, escaped the cell.

When Volgin discovered that Snake escaped his cell when arriving at the prison, he also ordered a full lock-down of the base, forcing Snake to jump off a waterfall from the sewers to escape the GRU forces, as his planned escape route was sealed as a result of the lock-down.[15] Snake, surviving this, continued his mission to destroy the Shagohod. After the Shagohod was completed, Volgin granted the scientists and engineers the rest they needed. However, it was believed that he was also planning to execute all of them after the phase 2 trials to ensure that they didn't expose the Shagohod's existence.[16]

Volginmad

Volgin, while torturing Naked Snake during Operation Snake Eater.

Following a tip from Ocelot, Volgin's forces apprehended EVA as she attempted to steal the Philosophers' Legacy microfilm from the underground vault of Groznyj Grad, revealing her true identity as the spy. Shortly thereafter, he discovered Snake's infiltration of the Shagohod hangar, with the assistance of Ocelot and The Boss, and captured him. With an unconscious EVA present, Volgin expressed dismay that his "precious, little pet" was a traitor, and planned to have her executed. Entrusting the microfilm to The Boss, who left to deal with EVA, Volgin prepared to face Snake in personal combat, while Ocelot observed. He also briefly fired a bullet at Ocelot to ward him off, after the latter protested at being denied the chance to fight Snake.

Despite Volgin's extraordinary electrical abilities, Snake proved to be an able opponent. Anticipating that the battle may shift in Snake's favor, Volgin ordered Ocelot to shoot him. However, when his subordinate refused to obey (citing a promise he had made to The Boss), Volgin responded with an electric attack, which Ocelot countered. When an announcement over the hangar's PA system alerted him to the discovery of Snake's C3 explosives, Volgin instead ordered Ocelot to locate them, which he reluctantly left to carry out. Resuming the fight with Snake, Volgin proceeded to use his electric abilities to levitate and ignite several bullets around him and fire in a circle, challenging Snake to dodge the attack. In defiance of Volgin's onslaught, Snake successfully exploited openings in the Colonel's attacks and defeated him, with Volgin forced to his knees, coughing up blood.

Although the C3 explosives successfully detonated, bomb disposal personnel had managed to drain the fuel tanks to which they had been planted, preventing the Shagohod's destruction. Commandeering the vehicle, Volgin escaped the burning hangar and pursued Snake and EVA on their motorcycle, also announcing his survival by declaring that it isn't over yet and taunting them about how there was no escape for them. As the chase proceeded through Groznyj Grad, Volgin laid waste to the base in an attempt to kill them, even going as far as to shoot down his own men with the Shagohod's machine guns, run over them, and ram into both a Mi-24 Hind and a WiG aircraft. After reaching the base's runway, he activated the Shagohod's booster rockets in an attempt to crush Snake and EVA, almost frying Ocelot behind him as revenge for his earlier disobedience, and also killing several GRU bikers in the process. However, EVA and Snake narrowly evaded him by turning to the path leading to the bridge, with Volgin, when noticing their evading him, braking the Shagohod, with the sudden stop being such that Volgin was temporarily stunned from it jolting to a halt before resuming his pursuit of his quarry alongside several other GRU bikers.

Volgins Death

Volgin's defeat.

After the Shagohod was almost destroyed on a C3-laden rail bridge, Volgin piloted the remaining front section to face Snake and EVA. Even when the Shagohod failed completely due to Snake's RPG attacks, Volgin refused to give up, powering it with his own electricity. In the end, however, Volgin fell to Snake's continued assault as EVA distracted him. Standing atop the ruined machine, Volgin was suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning, which set him alight and caused the ammunition in his bandoleers to discharge, with Snake calling it "a fitting end." Snake then caught a glimpse of The Sorrow, who had accompanied the thunderstorm's arrival.

Post-Snake Eater[]

Despite Volgin's defeat, his desire to have Khrushchev ousted from power and replaced with Leonid Brezhnev nonetheless came to pass. In addition, contrary to reports made as a result of Operation Snake Eater, Volgin had actually survived his battle with Snake, albeit with serious enough injuries to leave him in a comatose state. His survival was not explainable by then-modern science, even taking into account how the colonel, due to his electrokinetic abilities, was never an ordinary man in the first place. His body was later recovered by Soviet scientists and taken to a research institute on the outskirts of Moscow that focused on paranormal abilities in individuals, where it was kept alive for scientific preservation and presumably experimentation. Ultimately, the only thing keeping Volgin alive was his desire for revenge against Naked Snake, which also had the side effect of turning him into a figurative "demon."

Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima's core "Metal Gear Saga." Its canonicity within the continuity is disputed, therefore reader discretion is advised.[?]

Six years after Volgin's defeat, his defeat at the hands of Naked Snake had spread across the Soviet Union, making Snake somewhat of a hero to the Soviet people, as well as in America.[17] Sokolov, while using the pseudonym "Ghost," thanked Snake for "taking care of" Volgin years before when he first called him, giving him a hint to his potential identity. In addition, the Soviet government could now deliver justice to Major Raikov's abuse of his rank, as Volgin's influence prevented them from doing so beforehand. Because of Snake's role in Volgin's supposed death, Raikov was initially reluctant to join Snake and Campbell's resistance against Gene when he was rescued, although he eventually relented.

Before being killed by Snake, Gene revealed that a "deviously cunning strategist" had deliberately planned for the event that Volgin of GRU would use a U.S. nuclear weapon to attack the OKB-754 research facility in Tselinoyarsk.[18]

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Phantom Pain Incident[]

See also: Hospital Escape and Phantom Pain Incident


Manonfire

Volgin as the "Man on Fire."

Nineteen and a half years after Operation Snake Eater, at exactly the same time when Venom Snake had awoken from his coma, Volgin's body became active, beginning his rampage as the "Man on Fire." On February 26, he burned the entire institute that housed his body to the ground and ended up meeting with the psychokinetic child known only as Tretij Rebenok. Volgin's rage against Naked Snake influenced Tretij Rebenok's mind, and using the child's psychic abilities, his body was revitalized, having gained pyrokinesis along with his electric powers.

Since then, Volgin began seeking out his vengeance against Naked Snake with Tretij Rebenok. It was because of Volgin discovering Big Boss's survival and coma that Big Boss and Ocelot were forced to accelerate their plans for a decoy. Having recently awakened from a coma, Venom Snake was being escorted to safety by Ishmael when they briefly encountered Tretij Rebenok in front of an elevator, shortly before it exploded. From the flames emerged the "Man on Fire", which advanced towards the duo until the emergency sprinklers activated, forcing him to retreat. He later reappears at various points of the hospital in trying to prevent Venom Snake's escape, killing XOF forces led by Skull Face every time they posed as an obstacle. After being subdued by Ishmael outside the hospital, Volgin would recover and give chase to Ocelot and Venom Snake (whom he mistook for Big Boss) while riding on a demonic unicorn-like apparition with Tretij Rebenok. During the chase, Ocelot briefly recognized Volgin and commented about him being "back from the dead."[19] Ultimately, his prey had eluded him at the bridge, and he was ultimately forced to let them escape due to both their being separated by the river and an oncoming rainstorm.

At some point, Skull Face managed to locate both Tretij Rebenok and Volgin, adopting them both as weapons after discovering he could control the both of them due to his intense hatred of Big Boss. During this time, it is heavily implied that Skull Face used the Man on Fire as cleanup regarding failed Vocal cord parasite experiments, one of which had been Malak's home village.[20][21] During a later mission, when Venom Snake came across Skull Face at the Ngumba Industrial Zone, the latter ordered Tretij Rebenok and the "Man on Fire" to kill Venom Snake. Volgin then nearly pinned down and strangled Venom Snake during the ensuing confrontation, but was forced to let him escape temporarily after Tretij Rebenok ended up using his powers to smother Shabani in smoke, resulting in Volgin being left paralyzed long enough for Venom Snake to escape his grip. Volgin chased Venom Snake which resulted in the two engaging in battle. He was later subdued by being doused in large amounts of water, thereby allowing Venom Snake to escape.

Mantis-volgin-venom

The "Man on Fire" and Tretij Rebenok confronting Venom Snake.

During the climactic confrontation between Venom Snake and Skull Face's forces in the Metal Gear hangar bay, Skull Face revealed the true nature of the "Man on Fire" and had ordered Tretij Rebenok to pit him against Venom Snake one final time. Unbeknownst to either Venom Snake or Skull Face, Tretij Rebenok found himself favoring Eli's intense hatred over Skull Face or Volgin's, allowing himself to be used as a conduit in order to hijack Metal Gear Sahelanthropus for Eli. As Sahelanthropus' loading platform rolled forwards Eli had Volgin walk into the wheels, crushing himself. Nonetheless, he survived, and some Soviet personnel retrieved the body and placed it at the Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost. Ocelot suspected the true identity of the Man on Fire from one of Skull Face's statements about men becoming demons and reanimating the dead due to residual desires for revenge.[22]

Volgindies

Volgin finally dies.

Venom Snake would later retrieve his body during a separate mission in Afghanistan. Before being extracted, Volgin's burned body came back to life once again as the "Man on Fire", causing his fiery horse to appear, knocking down Snake in the process. He pinned down Venom Snake and met him face to face. Mysteriously, Volgin momentarily reverted to his original appearance, in which he then stopped his assault - somehow, he realized that Venom Snake was not actually the Big Boss he thought he had been hunting. His anger quelled, he fell backwards to the ground, dropping several bullets just like he used to, and finally died. Volgin's corpse was then taken back to Mother Base and put in one of the Quarantine platform's cages. Ocelot then took the time to look over Volgin's corpse, reflecting that Skull Face must have used his desires for revenge against Big Boss for his goals.[23]

Abilities[]

Thu def

Volgin, wearing his rubber combat suit.

Volgin had incredible strength which made him a deadly foe in battle, his blows being powerful enough to send an opponent flying as well as make them vomit, breaking the opponent's bones in the process. His blows being powerful enough to shatter bones was also implied during his beatdown of Naked Snake in the West Wing, where noticeable crunching sounds were heard whenever his blows made contact with Snake. He was also known to incorporate boxing into his physical combat, with his proficiency in boxing being high enough to have originally been deemed a champion. In addition, he was capable of not only lifting, but also wielding with ease, a Davy Crockett launcher by hand (Davy Crocketts weigh about 300 kilograms combined with the launcher and the Davy Crockett itself, and personnel using it generally utilize a tripod). He was also skilled with guns, using his Makarov pistol sidearm to shoot Sokolov in the kneecaps after deducing Major Raikov was Naked Snake in disguise. Colonel Volgin then turned the Makarov on Snake, but the gun was disarmed from him with Snake's quick CQC skills. It was attempted to be used on Snake again once The Boss overpowered him, and The Boss did a similar disarming maneuver to render him bare-handed.

Volgin's body possessed a physical anomaly that allowed him to generate and manipulate 10 million volts of electricity at will, and he specialized in electric shock attacks.[24] When demonstrating his electrical abilities indoors and/or within a confined area, the environment due to the electricity radiating from Volgin turns a slightly neon blue, which is best demonstrated when he beat up Snake within the West Wing. To protect himself from being injured by this exceedingly high voltage, having caused the numerous scars to his face,[25] Volgin wore a rubber suit during combat. While wearing it, he could generate his maximum level of voltage, using it to enhance his strength to superhuman levels. He demonstrated this by punching through the solid metal of the Shagohod's armor, which even the RPG-7's shaped-charge warhead was unable to penetrate directly. Volgin was also known to perform an attack that did damage on three levels; to hold four 7.62x54R rifle shells between his knuckles, punch a person, and drop the shell casings in an intimidating manner. The maneuver worked three-fold: A punch, igniting the cartridge's gunpowder for a "gunshot" effect, and using the metal of the shells to conduct an electricity shock on the opponent. He first showcased this ability on a concrete wall after learning from The Boss that The Pain had been killed by Naked Snake. He then performed it on Granin, who was imprisoned inside a metal drum, with the effects being such that the resounding gunshot from the ignited gunpowder were heard by Snake and EVA from the top of Krasnogorje inside the ruins on top. Ironically, just before Volgin's final death as the Man on Fire in Afghanistan in 1984, Venom Snake ended up demonstrating a similar action to Volgin's dropping of bullets after an attack after Venom Snake forced a surprised Volgin off.

Top-10-metal-gear-villains-20080611021436505-000

Volgin using the bullets in between his fingers as makeshift "brass knuckles"

During his battle with Naked Snake in Groznyj Grad, Volgin demonstrated the ability to electrify metallic objects to his own specifications (for example, he was able to create a steady band of electricity across the floor) and project steady beams of electricity forward. Instead of using a firearm, he could hold 7.62x54R cartridges in his hands and use his power to ignite the propellant. He used this ability in several ways, including a barrage attack, a machine gun, and to increase the damage from his punches. He used a similar attack on Ocelot to force him to not attack Snake, prior to his and Snake's fight in the hangar. The bullets presumably came from a bandoleer of 7.62 mm rifle bullets, which he always wore on his rubber suit. He could also use it to create a shield that could temporarily protect him from gunfire. On a similar note, he also could utilize his electrokinesis to levitate various bullets around his vicinity and then ignite the gunpowder to form a wide arc that could severely injure if not outright kill anyone caught in its path, which he demonstrated when resuming his attack on Snake after sending Ocelot away to locate and disarm bombs within the weapons hangar. However, a disadvantage to this attack is that it cannot aim below him, with Snake exploiting this by ducking and avoiding the attacks.He also had the ability to channel his own electricity, as shown when he was able to revive and power the Shagohod after it was nearly destroyed by Naked Snake's RPG. In addition, he could also absorb electricity from other electrical sources such as switchboards, as was shown during his fight with Naked Snake. He also had some degree of durability, as evidenced by his surviving an RPG blast from Naked Snake shortly before his being struck by lightning.

Nevertheless, his electricity was subject to the same physics as regular electricity. It was attracted by metal (which he used to his advantage to stop Naked Snake from using a gun by igniting all the bullets in the magazine at once, and also was used against him once by Ocelot by countering his electric beam by firing off his SAA bullets in random directions and forcing the beam to split into six.), and Russian Glowcap mushrooms (which interfered with his electrical abilities, causing him to hate the mushroom species). His powers could also be temporarily weakened if he came into contact with water. Likewise, his electrical abilities can also be disrupted with chaff-based weaponry. Although he can wield electricity, he is not invulnerable to it; as evidenced by his scars[25] as well as his being hit by a bolt of lightning late in Operation Snake Eater, although he would ultimately survive this, albeit at the cost of being rendered comatose.[1]

Although he never demonstrated this before his defeat in Operation Snake Eater, Volgin was also skilled at horseback riding, as demonstrated during the Hospital Escape in 1984 when riding on a horse wreathed in flames.

Manonfireunicorn

The "Man on Fire" and his flaming horse.

Volgin's body would undergo experimentation by Soviet scientists. His desire for vengeance against Big Boss would go on to influence Mantis and he would gain pyrokinesis while assuming the identity of the "Man on Fire."[1] It is implied that the catalyst behind his pyrokinetic abilities was derived from his fiery defeat during Operation Snake Eater, causing him to become a figurative "demon". As the "Man on Fire", Volgin employed similar tactics in terms of attacks, combining his electric abilities with his newfound fire abilities. He was capable of absorbing bullets with little to no visible damage and possessed the ability to fire them out of his body as projectiles; similar to how he previously ignited and fired bullets via electricity. Beyond this, he was capable of conjuring massive pillars made out of flames to surround his target in an open area. His durability was such that he could even take a direct hit from heavy-grade weaponry such as air to surface missiles and tank rounds with no visible damage other than cosmetic, as well as survive being run over by heavy vehicles such as an ambulance or a tank, and not even being crushed by Sahelanthropus' platform was enough to kill him. It was implied that he could also lift and throw various vehicles and rubble as projectiles, as demonstrated when Ishmael and Venom Snake were fleeing the hospital. Though he often walked, he could move swiftly in spurts and was able to teleport by manifesting himself out of one of his own pillar of flames. Although his pyrokinetic abilities were at the forefront as the Man of Fire, he still retained his electrokinetic abilities to an extent, as implied by his briefly crackling with electrical sparks while closing in on Ocelot and Venom Snake just as the latter party were closing in on the bridge. Similar to his original self, Volgin could be weakened by water to the point where heavy amounts temporarily incapacitated him. He was also able to summon a flaming horse that allowed him to chase Venom Snake. Ironically, extreme discharges of electricity were also capable of subduing him.[26] Although initially, he required Mantis's presence to even move at all (as demonstrated when Mantis mercy-killed Shabani in the rare times his own will came about instead of merely being influenced by another into doing something, leaving Volgin comatose long enough for Venom Snake to escape his terrible grasp), he ultimately managed to gain some degree of autonomy by the time XOF was defeated, where he managed to get up upon being crushed and travel some distance to Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost as well as try to kill Venom Snake there despite Mantis not only not being anywhere near him, but was also serving Eli during this time.

Personality and characteristics[]

Volgin

Volgin was shown to have a ruthless, brutal, and power-hungry personality, as one of the reasons why he desired to overthrow Khrushchev and install Brezhnev and Kosygin in his place was so he could secretly control the Soviet Union. Sokolov also implied that Volgin, upon assuming control of the Soviet Union, would also use the mass-produced Shagohod to engineer rebellions in various third world countries.[10]

He was also extremely sadistic, as evidenced by his love of torture, as well as his frequent abuse of EVA/Tatyana, and his boasts of killing people in the Katyn Forest Massacre, the Uprising of East Germany, and the Hungarian Revolution. In addition, during the aforementioned massacre at Katyn Forest, he removed the blindfolds before beating them to death. Furthermore, after Snake urinated on himself while being repeatedly electrocuted, Volgin remarked "Now that's what I like to see," suggesting that Volgin enjoyed seeing people experiencing terror or pain before death. In addition, Volgin recalled several despicable and low class things he did or witnessed, to which he frequently laughed about it. This trait was apparent shortly before he attempted to execute Tatyana when discovering she was the mole leaking information to Snake, where he laughed to himself.[27]

Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima's core "Metal Gear Saga." Its canonicity within the continuity is disputed, therefore reader discretion is advised.[?]

These traits likewise made him feared in the Soviet Union, to the extent that his alleged death and Big Boss's role in it resulted in the latter being viewed as a hero to the Soviet military despite the latter being American.[17]

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Volgin often failed to interrogate any of his victims successfully during Operation Snake Eater, as most of them died before they could reveal any information. In one egregious example, Volgin not only failed to learn the details behind Naked Snake's mission; he actually achieved the opposite by informing Snake about the true nature and location of the Philosophers' Legacy. This was in part due to Volgin's sadistic nature and his failure to control it, often "getting off" on it.[28] Taking into account that Ocelot discovered his fascination with torture by watching him interrogate Snake, Volgin's failure to show the benefits of torture awakened a sadistic side in Ocelot. Volgin himself also claimed that he was a "patient man" regarding his charges breaking under the interrogation.[29]

Despite his negative qualities, Volgin mentioned that his primary reason for trying to take control of the entire Eastern Bloc was to reunify the Philosophers, who had split apart and began warring among themselves, and essentially end the Cold War. In addition, Ocelot also noted when discussing Volgin to Venom Snake that the latter harbored a utopian vision. Finally, immediately before his fight with Snake, he gave Ocelot permission to supply Snake with his gun and knife.

Volgin was bisexual, and often described as being "a man of broad tastes,"[2] as evidenced by his sexual relationships with both Major Raikov and EVA. Believing that EVA was Sokolov's lover, Volgin intended to "take" her from him to ensure his cooperation and to torture him. Volgin's relationship with EVA was sadistic in nature as he frequently abused her both physically and sexually and left varies scars on her body. Shortly after discovering that EVA was the spy in his midst, he remarked that, despite his abuse towards her, he valued her as a his "precious pet". Though Volgin cared little for EVA as a lover, he seemed to legitimately care for Raikov both as an officer and a lover. Volgin used his influence to protect Raikov against allegations made against for frequently abusing his subordinates, a quality that Volgin greatly admired. In turn, Raikov enjoyed being Volgin's second in command and his lover, wearing a thong emblazoned with a lightning bolt, in reference to his relationship with Volgin. After Snake stole Raikov's uniform and impersonated him, Volgin almost immediate sensed something was amiss as he was expecting him to be at his room. Volgin soon grabbed the disguised Snake by the crotch to confirm his suspicions and proceeded brutally beat him in retribution for hurting Raikov.

Volgin showed a deep sense of respect (and to a certain extent, even fear) for The Boss. For instance, despite showing an extreme force of power in torturing Snake in Groznyj Grad, Volgin backed away when The Boss stepped toward him and starkly questioned his trust in her. Despite this, he still showed defiance when he ordered The Boss to cut Snake's eyes out. Later, he implied that he had at least some respect for Snake as well, mentioning that fighting him would be a "once in a lifetime battle."[30]

Owing to his receiving uncomfortable discharges via his electrokinetic abilities when exposed to rain, as well as the risk of being hit by lightning, he was also extremely wary of water and thunderstorms, causing him to recite "Kuwabara, Kuwabara" whenever a rainstorm was present.[31] There were only two instances where he did not do so, the first time when learning from The Boss that Naked Snake was most likely after the Philosophers' Legacy (although he did nonetheless briefly look up at the sky out of concern due to the aforementioned thunderclap[32]), and the second time when fighting Snake and EVA to a standstill, where he boasted that he wasn't afraid of a little thunder before attempting to re-power the Shagohod. Ironically enough, the latter instance resulted in him being hit by lightning and leaving him severely injured as a result.

Due to his high rank within the Soviet hierarchy, he wore a unique uniform that resembled a cross between a standard Soviet officer uniform and a trenchcoat, being colored dark green with two button cuffs on each sleeve, red pauldrons that gave his rank, six buttons on the front of the trenchcoat, and a black belt with silver buckles, as well as a side belt, with the trenchcoat portion extending down to his knees. This uniform ended up destroyed shortly before fighting Naked Snake in Groznyj Grad due to his unleashing the full extent of his electrokinetic abilities. After being rendered comatose as a result of Operation Snake Eater, this uniform was replaced during the Soviets' experimentation of his body, with the only known difference being that it was apparently fireproof due to it being largely unaffected by the new pyrokinetic powers Volgin had. This uniform ultimately ended up destroyed during Volgin's attack on the Cyprus hospital as the Man on Fire due to being hit by missiles from a UTH-66 Blackfoot, although Volgin himself was unharmed by the attack.

Man on Fire shot

Volgin, as the Man on Fire, about to try and kill Venom Snake at Afghanistan.

Due to meeting his defeat at the hands of Naked Snake, Volgin's desire for vengeance grew so much that it kept his comatose body alive; essentially acting as the fuel and drive behind his relentless pursuits as the "Man on Fire". This feeling of hatred was strong enough to influence Mantis to accompany him in his pursuit of vengeance (though Eli's hatred for Big Boss proved greater to the point of supplanting Volgin's own influence over Mantis). As the "Man on Fire", Volgin primarily remained silent aside from occasionally grunting and roaring in anger. His face was obscured in what seemed like a layer of skin that fused/covered his mouth and his eyes glowed a fiery yellow. His body was burnt all over and it was laden with bullets, most of which are patterned in the same way as how Volgin previously wore a bandoleer of bullets. His head was heavily embedded with multiple bullets, in which they were positioned in such a way that he possessed a set of horns, thus creating a demonic visage. Every time Volgin was active, his body would glow internally while becoming engulfed in flames.

Screen Shot 2015-09-11 at 4.02

Volgin's appearance momentarily returning to normal before finally dying.

Though unrelenting in his pursuit against Venom Snake, to the extent that Ocelot even noted he was a "persistent bastard" before recognizing his former commanding officer,[19] it was heavily implied that Volgin later realized that Venom Snake was not the true Naked Snake/Big Boss during their final confrontation, and having come to this realization, his body was finally able to die.

Volgin possessed some knowledge of Japan and American history.[25]

Behind the scenes[]

Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin (エヴゲニー・ボリソヴィッチ・ヴォルギン?) is the main antagonist of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. His last name is a common Russian surname that derives from the Volga River, while his first name is the Slavic version of the name Eugene. During production for Metal Gear Solid 3, Volgin was also given the nickname by the English staff of "Colonel Kuwabara" due to his trademark of reciting the phrase whenever it rained, something Hideo Kojima also learned.[25] In the Trial Edition for Snake Eater, while he does not make a direct appearance in the demo, he is alluded to twice in the ending of the demo (simply as "the Colonel" or "Colonel"): Specifically, Sokolov mentions that a new weapon was in development that, should he acquire it, will turn the Cold War into all out nuclear war, and a then-unknown character expressing shock at his planning to nuke his fellows and trying to talk him out of it.

MGS3 Volgin Artwork

Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin.

In a leaked voice casting sheet, there was apparently some indecision in regards to whether Volgin was to hold the rank of Colonel or Major, although it was eventually decided that his rank was a Colonel in the final version.[2]

Volgin's actions on board the Hind were intended to be similar to Carl Weathers' role as the CIA Agent George Dillon from the film Predator (specifically, his acting overjoyed with the success of the operation to steal the Shagohod), under Kojima's request.[25]

When contacting EVA about the Katyn Forest Massacre as well as Volgin's involvement in the event, EVA will mention that, besides Katyn, similar massacres of Polish prisoners by the NKVD under Stalin's orders occurred within Western Ukraine and Belarus. These were a reference to the Bykivnia graves near Kiev and Kurapaty, a mass grave site located in a secluded forested area near Minsk, Belarus, respectively.

At one point just prior to the battle against Volgin, the latter does a wide arm gesture towards Naked Snake that prompts the latter to sheathe his gun and knife. This was based on a scene from Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes where Ocelot and Solid Snake engage in similar actions just prior to the boss fight against the former.[33]

After Volgin is defeated, when EVA is about to hug Snake, holding R1 will allow the player to see The Sorrow floating behind her and smiling. Some fans have speculated that he may have caused the lightning bolt that defeated Volgin, although he often appears whenever thunderstorms occur in the game.

Volgin electric powers makes him quite similar to several Marvel Spiderman villains such as Electro/Maxwell Dillon whose powers can generate and create electricty at will and Shocker/Herman Schultz a villain in which he can use shock waves and blasts with his technology and arm gauntlets. Also when Volgin became the Man in Fire he looked quite similar to Pyro from the Brotherhood of Mutants from the X-Men franchise.

In the non-canonical Secret Theater film Die Hard, after Volgin is launched into the stratosphere, he explodes, suggesting that Volgin carried a microbomb. In another film, Metal Gear Raiden: Snake Eraser, Volgin encounters a time-traveling Raiden on several occasions: he briefly mistakes him for Raikov and assaults him in the Groznyj Grad prison; he beats him in Groznyj Grad's West Wing while a Raikov-disguised Naked Snake slips away; and he expresses confusion when Raiden flees within a drum can just after he torturing and killing Dr. Granin. Volgin also briefly appears in the film The Joy, where he is puzzled as to The Boss's motives, after she jumps from a bridge to evade a swarm of hornets. He also called in Tatyana to come to his room, which also made him indirectly responsible for The End's obsession with her in the film He's Still Got It, due to her passing The End and causing him to "revive".

A leaked character model for the Fox Engine revealed a male character who resembled Colonel Volgin in appearance, who Kojima stated was a killed character. However, Kojima revealed in a Twitter post that the character was not Colonel Volgin.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database erroneously state that Snake killed Volgin instead of the latter being struck by a bolt of lightning.[17][34][35][36]

Concept art for Snake Eater showed various designs for what would eventually become Volgin, including a variation with wild hair and his constantly wearing a mask due to his face being very deformed, including his lacking any lips and overall having significantly more scarring than in the final version; as well as some concept arts that indicated that his left arm was outfitted with a prosthetic, including a false hand concealing an unknown contraption; as well as him being completely bald and/or wearing a beret.

Musical themes[]

Volgin has two theme songs associated with him in Snake Eater.

The first theme, "Volgin the Torturer", is an ominous-sounding theme that has low sounds and various sharp guitar strings that gradually grow higher. It is played in full in the scene where Volgin proceeds to give Naked Snake a massive beatdown at the West Wing after catching him, and also plays during his torture of Snake later on.

The second theme, "Clash with Evil Personified", has the starting portion composed of various electronic beeps before having a fast-paced rhythm. It came in two versions, which differed only in the place where it looped: The first version, played during the first phase of the boss fight, has low sounding beats, while the second phase has a slight choir in the background.

Although not directly associated with Volgin, both "Shagohod Escape" and "Takin' on the Shagohod" played while Volgin was piloting the Shagohod.

The song that played during the fight against the Man on Fire in the Voices mission for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was called "Flaming Death", which was an ominous tone which featured noises in the background similar to some of the Man on Fire's roars.

Cut content[]

Commentaries on Metal Gear Solid 3 by Kojima revealed several scenes involving Volgin that were to be featured in the game, which were ultimately cut or altered for the final version.[37]

Volgin

Volgin is the main antagonist of Metal Gear Solid 3.

There was originally to have been a scene at the Ponizovje warehouse, where Volgin looks dirtily at Tatyana's hips (which are seen through her skirt) while she is out of it, causing her to straighten out her skirt when she realizes this. The scene, had it been used, would have explained why Tatyana's skirt was straightened when standing up despite Volgin's earlier electric shock attack.[31]

The scene that the photograph was taken with Volgin and Raikov by EVA had Volgin reaching for Raikov's crotch, but this was cut off from the photo.[32]

When Volgin tortures Snake, the sequence was originally to have contained some button prompt sequences similar to previous games, where Snake would struggle and swear. Even though the dialogue had already been recorded, this concept was not utilized.[38]

While not cut from the game, Kojima admits that it was difficult to get across the meaning behind Volgin's breaking into laughter, after he expressed pity at the thought of killing EVA in the Shagohod's hangar. The reason for this was because he was remembering several "despicable and low-class" things he had carried out.[27] When EVA attempts to kill him with the Kiss of Death, Volgin was originally to have destroyed it with his electricity, with the resulting discharge forcing the bullet into the ceiling.[27] Just prior to fighting Snake on the elevator, he was also to have pressed a button to lower it, but this concept was changed during development to him using his electricity instead.

It was originally intended that Volgin had killed his father, and that there were originally supposed to be images of gold, silver, and paintings that the Nazis stole, images of World War II, Volgin's father, as well as a still of Volgin murdering his father. However, this was cut from the final version, with the Nazi Treasures and World War II images being replaced with texts and blueprints, and Volgin murdering his father being left out entirely.[31] Whether he had killed his father for the Legacy, had it been kept, was unknown, although Volgin's comment about having learned of its existence and his role in it after his father's death would make this motive unlikely.[4]

Volgin's final battle with Snake with the Shagohod was also slightly different: Originally, he was to have piloted an escape mode for the Shagohod that was quick in its movements. After being beaten, Volgin will burst out with his rubber suit largely damaged, with the top portion completely destroyed, as well as largely covered in his own blood, especially on the face. Because of his suit being damaged, he was also discharging electricity as if there was a malfunction. After noticing a storm, he effectively says "Hmm, thunderstorms mean nothing." And smiles at Naked Snake and EVA (hinting that he is about to kill them at that moment) before being hit by lightning. The final version had Volgin merging with the wiring of the Shagohod to re-power it, and likewise upon defeat attempt to re-power the Shagohod shortly before being struck by lightning.

Gameplay[]

Major Raikov will reveal hints that Volgin is prone to water-related means of attack, if interrogated. Raikov will also imply that Volgin doesn't like the Russian Glowcap mushrooms species.

Volgin's remarks about Snake's endurance prior to the torture varies depending on how many serious injuries the player has endured during both the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater (not counting wounds received in cutscenes). If Snake received minimal injuries, Volgin will remark that his skin is as soft as a "newborn baby's", although it soon wouldn't be. For moderate amounts of injuries, Volgin will admit that Snake has seen his fair share of battles, but tells him that he should consider himself so lucky, as what Snake would go through next would be "Hell." If Snake received a huge amount of injuries, Volgin will be impressed at how much he has endured, as a lesser man would have been long dead by then.

If the player wears the Raikov mask during the boss fight with Volgin, Volgin will slowly walk towards while shaking to snake, and say "Ivan...?", thus allowing a free hit on Volgin. However, this can only be done only once (afterwards, he would have wised up), and if the player took the opportunity to hit him, he has to get out of the way, as Volgin will charge at him at an even faster rate than before, shouting out loud "How dare you!! You will pay for what you did to Ivan!!" Also, waiting too long will have Volgin realize that Snake is not Raikov at all, and do the above action. In a radio call to Para-Medic, she'll also briefly hint that Snake try to use that technique to land a free hit, although she'll stop herself when Snake expresses confusion as to why it would work. Similarly, during the first phase of the fight, Volgin will sometimes turn around and scold Ocelot when the latter supplies aid to Snake, which would provide an opening for a free hit on Volgin. Also, acting on the advice that Volgin doesn't like water, the player can shoot the pipes in the arena. Similarly, the player can also toss out some Russian glowcap mushrooms (if they player has them in their possession), which will absorb Volgin's electric attacks. If the player manages to bring a live tree frog with them and throw it, Volgin will jump away in fear upon getting close to it, uttering in anger "Kuwabara!, Kuwabara!" before attacking the frog. This references a myth related to the belief that lightning will not strike a mulberry bush.

In the HD Collection, if the player defeats Volgin, they'll gain an trophy/achievement named "Grounded," referring to the concept of electrical waves being dampened by towering objects such as lightning rods to prevent short-circuiting of electronics.

Metal Gear Solid V[]

The-phantom-pain-50c76d1f3ed78

The fiery apparition of Volgin called the "Man on Fire."

In early trailers of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, an apparition appeared that bears some resemblance to a demonic version of the then-long deceased Volgin. He wore a bandoleer of bullets on his chest and a tattered suit very similar to the ones worn by Volgin in the latter stages of Operation Snake Eater (when his coat had been removed). The positioning of the bullets between his knuckles also confirmed the Man on Fire's identity. The March 2014 issue of Game Informer confirmed that the phantom was intended to be Volgin. A Play Arts Kai action figure based on this character was shown on July 23, 2014 at the San Diego Comic Con. The action figure was showcased under the name of Man on Fire. The RedCode site also uncovered some code that was during the hospital scene, where the character on the horse is explicitly referred to as Volgin.[39] The unveiled covers for the UK versions of Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox: The Official Magazine also makes the connection between the Man on Fire and Volgin even more explicit, showing the apparition wearing a slightly damaged version of Volgin's Soviet GRU uniform/trenchcoat.[40] The Man on Fire's identity was later confirmed to be Volgin in a leaked Italian game guide, which also revealed that, besides the prologue, he is fought in Episode 20, and also revealed that he is invulnerable to any conventional attacks. Various trailers also showed the apparition being in close proximity to Tretij Rebenok, suggesting there was a connection between the two. This was further supported by GamesRadar during E3 2015, where they described him as a "flaming psychic projection."[41] A leaked Italian gaming guide, however, revealed that the Man on Fire was in fact Volgin and not an apparition, explaining that he had become comatose after the events of Snake Eater and was experimented upon after Soviet scientists recovered his body. The bullets jutting from his head and portions of his torso were presumably caused from when the bandoleers ended up cooking off when he was zapped by lightning in the ending of Snake Eater.

METAL GEAR SOLID V THE PHANTOM PAIN 20150924013021

Man on Fire (corpse) key item.

Even though the Man on Fire was explicitly shown to have revived himself when Snake arrived to retrieve the body at the Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost in the end-side op 144 cutscene before perishing for good, the Man on Fire (Corpse)'s key item description simply states that his death was due to being crushed by Sahelanthropus.[42]

Aside from his appearance in The Phantom Pain, Volgin also appears in the Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes Companion App as an officer type for the Mother Base builder. He is unlocked by getting 60k points or more on Hard difficulty with the main mission, while connected to the app the Companion App is on.

Tumblr nw7my5rXuU1r2si3mo8 1280

Man on Fire concept art (left)

The player can also attempt to extract the Man on Fire via Fulton during the boss fight with him in Episode 20: Voices. This requires defeating him before the tunnel is destroyed and is best done by knocking Tretij Rebenok out beforehand. Doing so will have Miller express shock, and Ocelot agreeing to the plan, thinking it would give them the opportunity to find out who or what the Man on Fire was.[43] Using the Fulton device on him, however, will result in the fulton extraction failing off-screen, with Ocelot and Miller reporting that the Man on Fire had destroyed the bonds for the Fulton balloon and escaped, with Miller stating it was a good thing (implying alongside his earlier reaction to his being extracted that he did not want Man on Fire back at Mother Base after witnessing his destructive actions).[44] If the player manages to take out Tretij Rebenok first or before he could revive the Man on Fire, Miller will call in and note that the boy's presence is what causes the Man on Fire to be mobile before congratulating Snake on his method of disabling the Man on Fire.[45] Doing so completes an objective for the mission. Oddly enough, despite Volgin's relationship with Raikov and the latter being derived from Raiden in terms of overall design, using the Raiden suit in the boss fight against the Man on Fire illicits no unique reactions from him.

As the Man on Fire, Volgin is voiced and facial motion-captured by Dave Fouquette, although he doesn't have any actual dialogue. Instead, he just grunts and roars. In large part because of this as well as Volgin's Japanese voice actor in Snake Eater, Kenji Utsumi, having passed away in 2013, Fouqette acted as the Japanese voice for Volgin as well.

Concept for Volgin, or rather, the Man on Fire revealed that he was originally going to wear a mask of a sort, two of which had glowing eyes, and either involved straps or otherwise a balaclava-type appearance. In addition, he was originally conceived as wearing a luminescent red raincoat before ultimately settling with his recognizable Soviet uniform. Other concept art dealt with how he specifically appeared, one with him wearing a suit similar to those of the Russian soldiers in Peace Walker, complete with an armband; pants with cross suspenders with no top, a heavy cloak, and a suit with a cape which, alongside the horns, gave him a similar appearance as that of the Devil in religious circles.

Other appearances[]

Volginnuke

Volgin flashback in MPO.

Volgin was mentioned several times in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. The first mention of him was by Jonathan, after learning that Snake was actually Big Boss. The second time was by Ghost when first contacting Big Boss. The third time was during the recruitment of Raikov, and the final time was when Gene explains that the United States, and more specifically a "deviously cunning strategist" had manipulated various factors to ensure that The Boss did not come home alive. He was also mentioned in Raikov's bio on the Soldier list in the expansion game Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus.

Volgin was referenced by Big Mama to Old Snake in Act 3, when recounting Operation Snake Eater, the event that resulted in the formation of the Patriots. He was also briefly seen on a painting in Act 3 when first entering the hideout, which was itself based on Noriyoshi Ohrai's artwork for Metal Gear Solid 3.

Volgin was given three slight references in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. He was mentioned by The Boss AI during the climax of Chapter 4, which was itself a repeat of what The Boss herself told Big Boss, then known as Naked Snake, shortly before their duel in Rokovoj Bereg. The second time was when Big Boss told Dr. Strangelove that he was "used to shock therapy." The third time was in Peace Walker HD, with the trophy achievement "Kuwabara, Kuwabara" received upon using the radio near a ghost, referring to what Volgin frequently says when it is raining.

Volgin doesn't appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but his electrical abilities are indirectly referenced in EVA's sticker, which grants the user a 30% resistance to electric attacks.

Volgin is erroneously referred to as a KGB colonel in cards featured in Metal Gear Acid and Metal Gear Acid 2.[46]  

Chara08 sp

Volgin as he appears in Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater (pachislot) (SP version)

He also has several cards in the smartphone game Metal Gear Solid: Social Ops.

He also appeared in the Versus Battle on the series official site.

"STRENGTHS: Sadistic High Voltage Herculean Power
WEAKNESSES: Water, Chaff, Poor Interrogator
FEATURED FACT: Also known as Thunderbolt, the giant Colonel Volgin can generate up to 10 million volts of electricity with which to decimate opponents
FEATURED GAME: METAL GEAR SOLID: THE LEGACY COLLECTION
"
-Volgin in Versus Battle

Owing to the game being an adaptation of Snake Eater, he will also appear in the pachislot game of the same name. His role will be the same as in the original game, although he also has a slight appearance in the Virtuous Mission option, where he personally commandeers a Hind alongside Ocelot at Rassvet, with Snake shooting him down. His design in the Pachislot game was a slightly tweaked version of his appearance in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain right before he died.

Although Volgin does not appear in Metal Gear Survive, his attack of the Dhekelia SBA Memorial Hospital was given an indirect mention in the scene where Miranda was recruited, where she mentioned that the last thing that happened before being sent to Dite was her and a doctor rushing back to the hospital she was working at and then arriving only to see that the hospital was on fire.

Gallery[]

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater []

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain[]


Appearances[]

Non-canonical[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ a b c Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
  2. ^ a b c d e Metal Gear Solid 3 voice casting sheet
  3. ^ Since patronyms are used for middle names in Russian, it can be assumed that Volgin's father was named as this.
  4. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: After my father's death, I learned of this secret and obtained the microfilm.
  5. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin: Volgin's father was in charge of the Philosophers' money laundering activities. In the confusion of the war, he somehow ended up with their treasure. And Volgin inherited that treasure illegally.
  6. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: With this money [the Philosopher's Legacy] and the support of Brezhnev and his allies I built this fortress of Groznyj Grad and Granin's research facility.
  7. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: But that worthless fool Granin failed to produce results [for Metal Gear] and I was forced to turn to Khrushchev's dog Sokolov and his invention - the Shagohod.
  8. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Gene would later claim that a CIA strategist had manipulated Volgin into nuking Tselinoyarsk, as part of a greater plan to assassinate The Boss from the beginning.
  9. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kojima Productions (2004).
    Major Ocelot: Colonel! Even if they are our enemies, they're still our countrymen! // Colonel Volgin: But it won't be me that pulled the trigger. It will be our friend, the American defector.
  10. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kojima Productions (2004).
    Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov: A completed prototype [of the Shagohod] now sits in the hangar. At present, it is the only one of its kind. But Volgin is planning to mass-produce them based on that prototype. // Naked Snake (Big Boss): And deliver them all over the Soviet Union? // Sokolov: Yes. And that's not the end of it. He's going to ship them to Eastern Europe, to Asia... to all the countries of the Eastern bloc. Even worse, he intends to use the Shagohod as bait to forment armed risings against dictators, ethnic insurgents, and revolutionary groups throughout the Third World. His funds [Philosophers' Legacy] are nearly limitless. He could start mass production tomorrow if he wanted. The reason tensions between the East and West have settled into a Cold War is because each side fears the others power. "Deterrence" - the concept of using threats to keep one's enemy in check - is the perfect word to sum up the state of affairs. But the Shagohod goes beyond the level of "threat." It will render the concept of "deterrence" utterly meaningless. If such a weapon is unleashed on the world, it would not be long before all nations are engulfed in conflict. The Cold War will end and the entire planet will be consumed by the fires of war. Volgin and the Shagohod will be at the center of it all.
  11. ^ EVA explains this in a radio conversation with Snake.
  12. ^ Sigint explains this in a radio conversation with Snake.
  13. ^ Explained in the commentary
  14. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    This is speculated in a radio conversation with Zero shortly after the torture.
  15. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    EVA: Snake? You're already in the sewers? // Naked Snake: EVA? Yeah, I just got down here. // EVA: ... // Snake: I'm coming to meet you now. The door at the north end is open, right? // EVA: Uh, Snake... // Snake: Let me guess - there's a problem. // EVA: Yeah. // Snake: What is it this time? // EVA: The colonel found out you escaped. // Snake: He did, huh. Figured as much. // EVA: Yeah. And now all of Groznyj Grad is on red alert. // Snake: Just my luck. But once I'm out of the fortress... // EVA: You can't get out. // Snake: I can't? // EVA: When the fortress went on red alert, they sealed off the sewers. // Snake: You've got to be kidding me. // EVA: I'm serious. And that means the escape route I laid out... // Snake: ...is sealed off, too. // EVA: Right. And they just sent a unit out looking for you. // Snake: Down here? // EVA: Uh huh. They'll be there any minute. You've got to get out, quick! // Snake: But isn't the exit sealed off? // EVA: You should be able to get out by heading straight north. Book it Snake! If they find you, you're dead!
  16. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    EVA: It should be no sweat for you. Besides, the scientists have the day off today. // Naked Snake: So the hangar's completely deserted? // EVA: Not quite. They've still got guards posted there. // Snake: Hmm... so what do I do after I set the C3? // EVA: The bombs run off a timer. Once the timer has been set the countdown will begin. When the timer reaches zero the bombs will all go off at once. // Snake: How long do I have? // EVA: 20 minutes. Once the Phase 2 trials are finished I wouldn't be surprised if they kill all the scientists to prevent them from talking. So you've got to act fast!
  17. ^ a b c Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Jonathan: Your mentor... the one who taught you the art of battle... Who was she? // Naked Snake (Big Boss): They called her The Boss. I killed her. // Jonathan: The Boss... The legendary soldier? Then Snake, you must be Big Boss. You're the hero who killed Colonel Volgin at Groznyj Grad.
  18. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Gene: It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss's death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, [Naked] Snake. It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist.
  19. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Ocelot: Persistent bastard. Wait a minute...! [pause] Back from the dead, eh?
  20. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015)
    Mission 9: Angel with Broken Wings
    Soviet soldier: How's Malak doing? // Truck driver: How should I know? The doctor will look at him when we arrive. // Soviet soldier: I heard he'll be sent for an autopsy. // Truck driver: An autopsy? But he's still alive. // Soviet soldier: Talk is, they all get autopsied, dead or alive. Just as long as the body is intact. // Truck driver: News to me. All they told me was "deliver him to Yakho Oboo." // Soviet soldier: Uh-huh. Listen... Don't tell anyone I told you this, OK? // Truck driver: All right. // Soviet soldier: Some strange disease was going round that Malak's village lately. // Truck driver: A disease? Soviet soldier: And, apparently the village had already burned down before the airstrike... Hm? Who goes there?! // Truck driver: What is it? // Soviet soldier: I heard a noise... It came from the latrine. Is someone there? // Truck driver: Guess it was nothing. Don't scare me like that. // Soviet soldier: Sorry. You better get going. // Truck driver: Hey, so if the village wasn't bombed, why'd it burned down? // Soviet soldier: I don't know. It's just a rumor. These are all rumors - the fire, the disease, the autopsies. All right, now go. // Truck driver: Yeah... // Soviet soldier: Drive carefully. Watch for ambushes. // Truck driver: Got it. Returning to mission.
  21. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015)
    Mission 9: Angel with Broken Wings
    Armored vehicle driver: This is as far as I go. Orders. // Truck driver: Got it. // Armored vehicle driver: The prisoner... His name's Malak? // Truck driver: That's what the dushman called him. // Armored vehicle driver: I was at his village not that long ago. // Truck driver: Before it burned down? // Armored vehicle driver: No, right after. The fires were still going. // Truck driver: But it was an airstrike, right? // Armored vehicle driver: No way. There was no smell. // Truck driver: Smell? // Armored vehicle driver: Of the oil. And all the buildings were still standing. // Truck driver: Meaning it was an ordinary fire? // Armored vehicle driver: Who knows what happened. I heard there were no survivors... // Truck driver: But everyone was killed? What the hell? // Armored vehicle driver: And that a man on fire attacked the village. // Truck driver: Man... on fire? // Armored vehicle driver: There's been all kinds of weird rumors lately. With the war dragging on, everyone's gone a little crazy. You'd better watch yourself, too. // Truck driver: Yeah. Well, thanks for the help. // Armored vehicle driver: Some angel if God lets his village burn down, huh? He has no one left now. All alone in the world... So long. // Truck driver: Your name's Malak, right? You have any family? Did they live at your village? (sigh) I haven't seen my family in a long time either. Well, we're almost there. We'll get the doctor to look at you. Stay strong
    • Truck driver: Prisoner transport from Lamar Khaate. // Soviet officer: I heard. Good work. Any incidents? // Truck driver: Same as the reports, otherwise nothing of note. // Soviet officer: And the prisoner? // Truck driver: He's pretty weak... // Soviet officer: What is it? // Truck driver: Nothing. So, um, is the doctor going to look after him? // Soviet officer: The doctor? Not that I heard. // Truck driver: I see... So where am I taking him? // Soviet officer: West wing. // Truck driver: They're going to keep on interrogating him? // Soviet officer: That's none of your business. Now take him to the west wing. // Truck driver: He's going to die. // Soviet officer: So what if he does? // Truck driver: What? // Soviet officer: We have our orders. Hurry up and take him to the interrogation room. Do it. Or I'll report you. // Truck Driver: Understood.
  22. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Ocelot: Got a report from the Intel Team. Remember how the Man on Fire was crushed by [ST-84 Metal Gear] Sahelanthropus? Well, the Soviets recovered his body. Could he really be dead? Boss [Venom Snake], head for Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost, and secure the Man on Fire's body. If Skull Face was right, and a thirst for revenge can turn a man into a demon and keep the dead alive... Then this "Man on Fire" who's been coming after us ever since you woke up... well, that just might be what's left of our old friend Volgin.
  23. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Ocelot: I barely recognize you, colonel. Skull Face used your thirst for revenge against Big Boss, did he?
  24. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004)
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: This is where the fun really begins! My body carries an electric charge of 10 million volts. Let's see how you [Naked Snake] like this! (he begins to electrocute Snake)
  25. ^ a b c d e http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary1.html
  26. ^ This is evidenced if the player fully charges the Stun Arm to attack the Man on Fire during their fight in Mission 20: Voices.
  27. ^ a b c http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary6.html
  28. ^ Director's Commentary for Metal Gear Solid 3.
  29. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: You're [Naked Snake is] a tough one. But even you must have your limits. And I am a patient man.
  30. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin: Sorry for the delay. Let's get started, shall we? This is a once-in-a-lifetime battle! Let's make it a good one! It's just you [Naked Snake] and me now. And I'm going to enjoy this.
  31. ^ a b c http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary3.html
  32. ^ a b http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary4.html
  33. ^ https://twitter.com/HEITAIs/status/1736290200761110939
  34. ^ http://mgsdb.com/en/enc/113/1
  35. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Major Raikov: The Yankee who killed the Colonel at Groznyj Grad!
  36. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Major Raikov: ...You want me... to join the villain who killed the Colonel? Not a chance...
  37. ^ MGS3 CINEMA KOJIMA COMMENTARY. Muni Shinobu. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
  38. ^ http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary5.html
  39. ^ [1]
  40. ^ http://www.metalgearinformer.com/?p=19780
  41. ^ http://www.metalgearinformer.com/?p=20422
  42. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Man on Fire (Corpse):
    Corpse of the Man on Fire, crushed by [Metal Gear] Sahelanthropus.
    Makes [FURICORN] (D-Horse equipment) available for development
  43. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Miller: Wait, you [Venom Snake] want to extract him [Man on Fire]?! // Ocelot: Good idea. I want to know what he really is.
  44. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    iDroid: Extraction failed. // Support Unit: Extraction failed // Ocelot: Nnngha, he [Man on Fire] broke the cords. // Miller: I'd call that good news.
  45. ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions (2015).
    Miller: So the kid [Tretij Rebenok] disappears... and the Man on Fire stops? I guess that worked. Good job as always, Boss.
  46. ^
    "A KGB colonel, his code name in the West is "Thunderbolt." His body carries a constant electric charge which causes nearby firearms to explode."
    ―Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin card description
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