The newest installment of the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 3, launched its campaign early for Vault Edition owners. With classic antagonist Vladimir Makarov and teases in Modern Warfare 2, many wondered if the infamous No Russian mission would play out.
The third entry of the rebooted Modern Warfare subseries of Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 3 continues where Modern Warfare 2 ended. An illusive new threat, Vladimir Makarov, has made his move. It’s up to Task Force 141, led by Captain Price, to stop him before it’s too late.
The answer to the question is complicated, as Modern Warfare 3 has two missions that invoke the themes of No Russian. Each attack involves Makarov and uses them as a means of terrorism. However, the execution and locations are different.
SPOILER AND CONTENT WARNING [violence] for those who haven’t played the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [2023] campaign.
What is “No Russian”?
2009’s Modern Warfare 2 saw the player take control of Joseph Allen, a CIA asset, in a mission called No Russian. Undercover as Alexei Borodin, he aids Makarov in order to gain his trust. He, alongside other Russian terrorists, attacks an international airport full of civilians in Moscow. Before they start shooting, Makarov says “No Russian”. This is to not lead on that the attackers are Russian but Americans.
The level was seen as extremely controversial when it came out. It also opened the discussion for tackling such topics within the medium. In 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, the end credits show text with those famous words.
How is “No Russian” in MW3?
As mentioned before, the execution of No Russian in Modern Warfare 3 is different but similar. The mission most resembling it is Passenger. In said mission, you play Samara, a retired member of Farah’s liberation group. Makarov and other Russians made their way on the plane and strapped a bomb to your chest before jumping off. With only a pistol, you have to shoot enemies and try to stop the bomb. Unfortunately, the timer runs out and the entire plane blows up, killing everyone.
Another mission that resembles No Russian in Modern Warfare 3 is titled Flashpoint. In it, you play as Soap as they stop a mass shooting at a stadium. Makarov and others snuck into the arena as police and opened fire on civilians, using them as bait. Task Force 141 manages to apprehend Makarov and end the shooting. However, it was revealed that Makarov had planted bombs in the stadium and airport, blowing both of them up and killing thousands.
Both of Modern Warfare 3‘s versions of the No Russian mission are pretty gruesome, but for some, they may not stack up to No Russian’s controversy. Perhaps it’s due to the perspectives, as we committed the act in 2009’s Modern Warfare 2 and tried to stop them in Modern Warfare 3. In any case, Makarov makes for a cruel and dangerous antagonist who’ll do anything to cause chaos.
