Bogatyri

Origin

The Bogatyri named for the "Valiant Champions of Elder Days" in Russian folklore are a group of superhuman Russians led by Dr. Vladimir Volkh. They infiltrate a Canadian Distant Early Warning base to set motion Operation Polaris where they plan to start a new Cold War and start a deadlier Ice Age to freeze the entire North American Continent. The Canadian base they invaded was developing a prototype of a quick-freeze crystal and these ice crystals multiply and spread very quickly in all directions. The core crystal absorbs heat from the air, imparts that power causing secondary crystals to grow at a rapid rate. Glaciers would form and keep moving south until the entire United States became a continent of ice. 

After taking over the base, two members of the Bogatyri named Svyatogor and Zvezda Dennista captured Logan while he was backpacking in the Canadian wilderness. Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man of the West Coast Avengers are following the  US Agent after they learned he was still working for the government. The Commission received the distress call from the Canadian base when it was attacked and sent the US Agent to investigate. The US Agent would land near the base when he is discovered by some Russian soldiers working with the Bogatyri. Us Agent quickly takes down the soldiers but is defeated by Bogatyri member, Mikula Golubev and tossed into a river. Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man manage to save him before he drowns. The three Avengers enter the base as Wolverine breaks his restraints and a battle would occur with the Bogatyri. During the fight, Wonder Man and Scarlet Witch are captured but Wolverine and the US Agent make a strategic withdrawal.

The Bogatyri restrain the Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man as Dr. Volkh unleashes the power of the quick-freeze crystal. Wolverine and the US Agent would counter attack with some help from US and Canadian soldiers. During the fight, the US Agent frees Wonder Man and Scarlet Witch who were encased in ice. The Scarlet Witch manages to stop the quick-freeze crystal with her hex bolts and all members of the Bogatyri escape in their hovercraft. Zvezda Dennista would come across the West Coast Avengers some time later during a conflict with Dr. Demonicus but the current whereabouts of the remaining members of the Bogatyri are unknown. 

Creation

The Bogatyri was created by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas and David Ross in 1992 and first appeared in Avengers West Coast # 87.