Lt. Cmdr. Leoni Zirukov

Lt. Cmdr. Leoni Zirukov

Background

Lt. Cmdr. Leoni Zirukov is the commander of the Soviet oceanographic research vessel Maxim Gorgi.

During the events of Airwolf: Season 2 Episode 12 Condemned played by Jan Triska

Lt. Cmdr. Leoni Zirukov and his troops arrive on the beach where the secret lab is located. A sailor collapses and Zirukov calls for a medic. Zirukov wants to send the sailor back on the submarine for treatment, but Lt. Elena Loupani tells him that the sailor will then infect the entire submarine. Zirukov calls an officer on the submarine and tells him if the virus spreads among the search party, then he will have to enact the destruction of the lab. Torgovitch reports to Zirukov that there are two Americans on the island. Loupani tells Torgovitch to send every available man to find Stringfellow Hawke and Caitlin O'Shannessy, but Zirukov cancels her order and says their priority is to find the antidote. Hawke and Caitlin are captured by the Soviets. Zirukov introduces himself and Loupani to Hawke and Caitlin. They argue whether, if an antidote exists, it belongs to the United States, the Soviet Union or the world. Hawke pulls back Zirukov's jacket, revealing a blotchy patch of skin and then reveals he too is infected. Caitlin pulls back her sleeve and finds out she is also showing symptoms of the virus. They agree to work together, which Loupani doesn't like. Sailor 2 tells the others he has triangulated the source, shortly after Hawke and Caitlin triangulate it. Hawke sees Zirukov and his group trying to beat them to the lab and fires a missile at a bridge, causing Zirukov and his group to have to walk to the lab. The lab door is blown open and the two groups enter the lab. Inside the lab are a series of containers with dead rabbits named after the Marx brothers and a different antidote formula written down. Hawke finds "Harpo" who was given Formula B, still alive and he also finds the source of the signal. The antidote is located and Zirukov takes the first injection. That night everyone celebrates and dances. Zirukov congratulates Hawke and Hawke reveals that he knows a search party was sent out to find Airwolf. Dr. Morton is brought into camp and tells everyone a side effect of the antidote is acute paranoia. A Soviet sailor suddenly screams and falls into the bonfire setting himself on fire. Dr. Morton tells them that if they tranquilize themselves for ten hours, the effects will wear off. Sailor 2 becomes paranoid and Hawke grabs his AK and tells the others to throw their weapons into the ocean and Zirukov tells them to listen to Hawke. Zirukov suddenly becomes paranoid and calls the Soviet submarine to conduct an airstrike on the island and he is then subdued. Later, Hawke and Caitlin land Airwolf after shooting down the missiles heading to the island and Loupani thanks Hawke and Caitlin. Hawke and Zirukov shake hands and Zirukov and his troops return to their submarine.