Chika

(real name Ivan Nikiforovich Zarubin). Born 1736; died Jan. 24 (Feb. 4), 1775, in Ufa. Iaik cossack; associate of E. I. Pugachev.

Chika took part in the Iaik cossack uprising of 1772. During the Peasant War of 1773–75 under the leadership of E. I. Pugachev, Chika led the insurgent movement in the Central Urals, Bashkiria, and the Ural Region. A detachment led by Chika and A. A. Ovchinnikov routed the forces of General V. A. Kar on Nov. 7–9, 1773, and besieged Ufa in late 1773. After stubborn fighting against punitive troops, Chika’s main forces were defeated near Ufa on Mar. 24, 1774, by a detachment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel I. I. Mikhel’son. On March 26, Chika was captured in Tabynsk as a result of treachery; during his interrogation he manifested unusual courage and steadfastness. Chika was executed in Ufa.