Dmitri Yuriev

Dmitri Yuriev is a major antagonist in the Xenosaga series. He is the creator of the U.R.T.V.s and the founder of the Yuriev Institute.

Appearance and personality
While alive, Dmitri is an older man with blond hair and glasses. He wears an all black uniform with a red decorations on it, white dress pants and boots. After taking over Gaignun's body, he takes on the latter's traits, albeit with yellow hair and wears the same outfit when he was alive.

Origins
According to Sellers and Yuriev himself, Dmitri Yuriev is one of the original designer children created to be used as test subjects in the early stage of U.M.N. organic transfer experiments. Yuriev is the only one who survived these experiments. During said transfer experiments, Yuriev also became the first human to make contact with U-DO and survive. This contact with this existence from a higher plane of existence implented him with an unescapable and unatural fear. This fear was the result of the potential end of the world he withnessed upon making contact. This fear is what drove him to eventually try to raise to the same level of existence as U-DO, no matter how many lives would be sacrificed for his ambitions. During his contact with U-DO, he also gained his ability to transfer his consciousness in another's body. This allowed him to survive for many years by possessing multiple vessels. It is unknown how old Yuriev is. Yuriev himself states that he has lived for "hundreds of years" but he does not give a specific number. Information given by Sellers seems to imply that he is around the same age as the U.M.N. due to his origins. Yuriev also says that he used to be held in the same facility as Abel.

After this experience, Yuriev became known as the original Salvator, being presumably the oldest designer children known to the general public. The Salvators being a political faction made up mostly of designer children who publically fight for their own rights. In private however, the faction is mostly controlled by Yuriev and used as an arm to further his own goals.

Pied Piper
During the events of Xenosaga Pied Piper, Dmitri Yuriev holds influence over the Federation in its dealings with the Immigrant Fleet. He had met Erich Weber, also known as Voyager, who similar to him had contact with U-DO and foresaw the potential end of the world. Yuriev would provide narcotics to Voyager, who saw him as his sole companion and someone who understood his feelings. This enables Yuriev to exert influence over Voyager. This included through Yuriev's front organization, the Descendants of Nestorious.

Yuriev's role in things is eventually uncovered by Jan and his colleagues. As such Yuriev has his subordinates interfere with the investigation, having it called off and arresting Jan and his colleagues. Yuriev is seen with his assistant, Zora, also concerned about the activities of the Immigrant Fleet. Yuriev desires the, which the Immigrant Fleet possesses, for himself. When the Zohar is activated by the Immigrant Fleet, Yuriev can feel it. He becomes distressed upon realizing that Voyager is calling out for U-DO and withdraws support for him.

At the end of the game, Yuriev influences the Federation to impose a military sanction on the Immigrant Fleet, further straining the relationship between the entities. He leaves the political stage to found an institution researching U-DO.

Lead up to the Miltian Conflict
Yuriev founds the Yuriev Institute. He is the creator of the U.R.T.V.s and acted as their male genetic donor. Years before the events of the game, he helped provide treatment to Sakura Mizrahi, using the U.R.T.V. variants to interact with her within her subconscious domain. He was eventually shot and killed by Nigredo.

Episode II
In the present day it is revealed that Yuriev has been able to revive himself by awakening his consciousness within Gaignun. When doing so his hair changes back to his original color. The first time this occurs he reaches out to his subordinates about the current situation. He attacks and takes over the Federation Parliament, revealing himself to Pellegri after killing an Ormus hidden agent. He later reveals himself to Junior by contacting him on the Durandal. Junior is shocked and angry to realize that he has returned. Yuriev tells Junior to eliminate Albedo as he has attempted to re-contact U-DO. Shortly afterwards, Gaignun is able to retake control of his body.

Future Redeemed
Dimitri Yuriev (spelled with an extra 'i', matching his original Japanese spelling) was mentioned at the end of Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed in the radio broadcast on the Ark. Here, he is a councilperson of the Minos Authority issuing a statement on the issue of the "Saviorite" Human Rights Protection bill. It is unknown whether this is supposed to be canon or just an Easter Egg.

Lore

 * Dmitri is the genetic father of all URTV variants.
 * Dmitri's original body was disposed of after his death.

Trivia

 * Yuriev's name may have been influenced by the soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, which was the first human to go into space.
 * Yuriev describe himself as a U.M.N. space pilot multiple times and is stated to be the first one to come back alive from the transfer experiments