Actor: Dimitri Diatchenko

Name: Oleg Vodnik*Nationality:* Soviet*Affiliation:* Soviet Union*Rank:* General*Role:* Commander of armoured divisions, then head of Soviet military affairs*Specialism:* Armoured warfare and Heavy Tanks*Associates:* Dasha Fedorovich, Nikolai Moskvin*Conflict:* Third World War*Appearances:* Red Alert 3, Red Alert 3: Uprising
Status: Alive after the war.Oleg Vodnik is one of the leading Soviet commanders in Red Alert 3. A former conscript who survived long enough to gradually rise through the ranks, he became a tank commander and went on to lead some of the Soviet Union’s most powerful armoured divisions. Despite his laid-back and informal manner, Oleg is a competent officer and is particularly well-liked by his men.

The armoured specialist

As a former tank commander, Oleg retains a clear preference for heavy vehicles. His combat style relies primarily on the power of Soviet armoured vehicles, particularly the Apocalypse Tanks.

This specialisation sets him apart from other Soviet commanders: Nikolai Moskvin favours naval warfare, whilst Oleg represents the Red Army’s land-based and mechanised might.

The Third World War

In the Allied campaign, Oleg is tasked with defending the large Soviet base at Heidelberg. He faces off against the Allied Forces but is ultimately defeated.

He then reappears in Havana, where the Soviets have converted stadiums into facilities for the mass launch of Kirov Airships against American cities. The Allies once again destroy his forces and thwart the operation.

In the Soviet campaign, Oleg plays a very different role. He is an old friend of the Soviet Commander and regularly fights alongside him, notably during the defence of Leningrad, in Geneva and then during the offensive against the Allied base in Iceland. He regards the Commander as a true brother-in-arms and holds him in the highest regard.

In the Imperial campaign, he defends Vorkuta during the Rising Sun’s initial offensive. His forces are crushed and Oleg meets his end in this alternative branch of history.

Uprising

The continuity of Uprising hinges on an Allied victory. Oleg has therefore survived the Third World War.

Following the Soviet defeat, the leadership sought someone to blame for the disaster. Oleg was pressured into accepting the post of head of Soviet military affairs, effectively becoming one of the regime’s main emissaries.

Despite hostility from part of the population, he maintains his relaxed demeanour and attempts to rebuild the Soviet Union’s military capabilities.

Under his leadership, several experimental programmes are carried out in secret, including an advanced version of the Iron Curtain capable of protecting entire bases. Research is also being conducted into gigantic war bears.

The new war against the Empire

Oleg subsequently took part in the clashes against Imperial forces who rejected the post-war order.

In Sakhalin, he notably deployed the new Grinders against Kenji Tenzai’s forces. The Japanese, however, managed to infiltrate his defences and turned some of his own equipment against him, forcing Oleg to retreat.

He then joins Nikolai Moskvin to defend Vladivostok. The two commanders are forced to face the new Imperial Giga-Fortresses and suffer another defeat. Nevertheless, they survive the events.

The Commander’s Challenge

Oleg also appears as an opponent of the FutureTech Commander.

His specialism naturally remains centred on heavy units. In Double-Barreled, he makes particular use of numerous Apocalypse Tanks. In Number One Threat to America, he conducts experiments in the United States on enormous bears named Ursa Major, which he hopes to bring back to the Soviet Union.

These missions show that, following the Soviet defeat, Oleg continues to seek out new weapons capable of restoring his country’s military might.

Personality

Oleg is a laid-back, loyal and cheerful character, standing in stark contrast to more austere Officers such as Krukov or Moskvin.

His lack of formality sometimes earns him criticism from his superiors, but it also explains his popularity amongst his Soldiers. He prefers to treat his men and comrades as brothers in arms rather than constantly maintaining the distance dictated by his rank.

Above all, he remains deeply loyal to the Soviet Union. Even after defeat, occupation and his use as a political scapegoat, Oleg continues to work towards the restoration of the Soviet army.