Vladimir Alexandrovich Kucherenko (Russian: ?????´??? ??????´??????? ??????´???; born December 21, 1966), better known by the pen name Maxim Kalashnikov (?????´? ????´??????), is a Russian writer, publicist, and political activist.
His writings focus on praising the Soviet Union and its political and economic system from a Russian nationalist perspective, criticizing the Russian government, and discussing the perceived NATO (particularly American) threat to Russia and the likelihood that this antagonism will result in a nuclear war between Russia and NATO.
Kucherenko was born in Ashgabat on December 21, 1966, but spent much of his childhood in Odessa, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine).
He served in the Soviet Army from 1985 to 1987, and graduated from Moscow State University in 1991 with a degree in history.
Kucherenko is the father of three daughters, and published his first book in 1993.