Russian Mafia

Type	ORGANIZATION
Russian Mafia
Russian Mafia members in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Also known as	Russians Ruskies
Appears in	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Location(s)	Los Santos, San Andreas
Business & Operation
Businesses	Arms trafficking Drugs trafficking
Affiliations	Big Smoke Ballas Los Santos Vagos San Fierro Rifa Loco Syndicate
Vehicles	Sultan BF-400 Packer Forklift Banshee
Weapons	Pistol Micro SMG SMG AK-47
In-game status	Active
Gang Hierarchy
Gang type	Russian Crime Syndicate
Nationality	Russian
Leader	Unknown
Members	Andre
Enemies	Carl Johnson

This article is about the Russian Mafia featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
For other Russian gangs, see Russian Mafia.

“Now all my life I been told to fear Ruskies, but I ain't never even met one. Then the wall comes down and we're all supposed to be friends. Five minutes later, my cousin gets laid out by some Ruskie fresh off the boat.”

— Big Smoke about the Russian Mafia during Just Business.

The Russian Mafia is a gang featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

History

Background

The unnamed Russian Mafia gang members in Los Santos are depicted as immigrants and arms traffickers, who came from Russia to the United States after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR.

Events of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

“I'm saying the Ballas have brains, Carl, they watch the news. I'm saying they're making friends, cutting deals, and tooling up for more than half-assed drive-by's. Lots of cheap guns coming into America since the fall of the wall, Carl.”

— Frank Tenpenny about the arms deal between the Ballas and the Russian Mafia during Gray Imports.

The Russian Mafia is one of the gangs affiliated with C.R.A.S.H. and Big Smoke, alongside the Ballas, Los Santos Vagos, and the San Fierro Rifa. Compared to the other gangs in the 'league', the Russian Mafia is a more 'secondary' gang in the partnership, acting more as a support than an official member.

Shortly after the gang's arrival to Los Santos, they are attacked in the Atrium building in Commerce by Big Smoke (then yet not affiliated with group) and Carl Johnson, which is implied as being an arms deal gone wrong. They are also attacked by the Carl during a deal with the Ballas at the Ocean Docks Freight Depot, during which they are dressed like mechanics. Both the Russians and the Ballas fail to stop Johnson from ruining the meeting.

A Russian mobster makes a cameo appearance during Key to Her Heart, when Millie Perkins walks out of Caligula's Casino into her car, although depicting a regular worker at the Italian Mafia-owned casino.

They make a final appearance at Big Smoke's Crack Palace, attempting to protect Big Smoke and eliminate Carl Johnson. Ultimately, the Russians, alongside the other gangs, are defeated.

Members and Associates

Members

• Andre - Unknown rank (deceased)

Associates

• Big Smoke (deceased)

Prominent Appearances in Gameplay

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

• Just Business
• Gray Imports
• Key to Her Heart (cameo)
• End of the Line

Gallery

Russian mobsters dressed like mechanics, as seen in "Gray Imports".

From left to right: unused model of the mafia's boss found in the game files and two skins used by the Russian Mafia in the game.

Vehicles

Forklift.

Packer.

BF-400.

Sultan.

Trivia

• Considering some facts like unused model of mafia boss in the game files, Russian Mafia were supposed to be a gang and thus have a bigger role in the game, but it seems that for unknown reasons Rockstar North decided to scrap that idea.
• The two used models of the Russian Mafia are used in the poster for the movie Sonny Forelli: A Real Story in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
• It appears that the Russian Mafia was originally going to be called "The Grays" by other gangs in the beta version of the game. Some references to this can still be heard in the final version, through VLA1's quote: "The Grays control your flunkies, holmes!" and Ballas1's quote: "I can't stand the Grays or the Aztecas".^[ref?] The mission name "Gray Imports" seems to allude to this nickname as well.