Pasha Lychnikoff Pavel Dmitrievich Lychnikov , usually credited as " Pasha ( D . ) Lychnikoff " , is a Russian - American actor who has a role as a Romulan commander in ' s . His face was re - used in for card # 25 , Romulan Crewman Boknar , of the virtual collectible card battle game " " . Early life . Born in Moscow , Lychnikoff received a Master of Arts in acting from the Moscow State Lunacharsky Academy of Theatrical Arts . He performed in several stage productions in Moscow before opting to continue his acting career in the United States . He trained under such actors as TOS guest star Jeff Corey and DS9 guest actor Jonathan Banks . Career . Television . Lychnikoff ' s first television work was a 1996 episode of " NYPD Blue " entitled " Burnin ' Love " . In addition to series regular Gordon Clapp , other " Star Trek " performers who appeared in this episode were Tommy " Tiny " Lister , Jr . and Rick Worthy . Lychnikoff made a return to " NYPD Blue " in 2000 , appearing in an episode with Raymond Cruz . Between 1996 and 2000 , Lychnikoff appeared on such shows as " Dark Skies " ( with Art Chudabala , Brian Cousins , Jennifer Hetrick , and s Jeri Ryan ) , " Michael Hayes " ( with Theodore Bikel ) , " C - 16 : FBI " ( with Zach Grenier , Matt Malloy , and Glenn Morshower ) , " Beyond Belief : Fact or Fiction " ( hosted by Jonathan Frakes ) , " Nash Bridges " ( with Stephen Lee , Scott Leva and Athena Massey ) , and " Buffy the Vampire Slayer " ( starring James Marsters ) . In 2001 , Lychnkikoff starred with his future " Deadwood " co - star and fellow Trek alum Titus Welliver in the short - lived CBS series " Big Apple " . The following year , Lychnikoff appeared in an episode of " Alias " , the popular ABC series created by " Star Trek " director and producer J . J . Abrams . The episode in which he appeared , " Passage : Part 1 , " also featured Terry O ' Quinn in his recurring role as FBI Assistant Director Kendall . Since 2002 , Lychnikoff has guest - starred on such shows as " The Agency " ( with David Clennon , Ronny Cox and Gary Graham ) , " Without a Trace " ( starring Enrique Murciano ) , " CSI : Miami " ( with Salli Elise Richardson and Boris Lee Krutonog ) , " She Spies " ( with Faith Minton ) , " Threat Matrix " ( in an episode with Denise Crosby ) , " The Shield " ( with Leonard Kelly - Young ) , " CSI : NY " ( with Robert Joy and Mark Kiely ) , " Chuck " ( starring Bonita Friedericy and Tony Todd ) , " My Own Worst Enemy " ( starring Christian Slater , Mädchen Amick , and Alfre Woodard ) , and " Lie to Me " ( with Spencer Garrett ) . However , to date , Lychnikov is perhaps best known for his recurring appearances as telegraph operator Blazanov on the HBO series " Deadwood " ( 2004 - 2006 ) , working with the likes of Jim Beaver , Larry Cedar , Dennis Christopher , Gordon Clapp , Tim de Zarn , Brad Dourif , Allan Graf , Zach Grenier , Michael Harney , Paula Malcomson , Tzi Ma , Leon Rippy , Franc Ross , Maury Sterling , Titus Welliver and Keone Young . In 2010 , Lychnikoff worked with Robert Picardo on a pilot for a potential CBS series called " The Odds " . He also guest - starred as a Russian baby smuggler in an episode of NBC ' s " Law & Order : Special Victims Unit " and as a jewelry store owner on CBS ' " The Defenders " ( with Leonard Kelly - Young , Robert Pine , and Raphael Sbarge ) . He has also been working again with J . J . Abrams , shooting episodes of NBC ' s " Undercovers " , which Abrams co - created . In 2012 he had a recurring guest role as the International Space Station cosmonaut Dimitri in another CBS series , " The Big Bang Theory " . Films . Lychnikoff ' s early film credits include small roles in the 1997 thrillers " Air Force One " ( also featuring Boris Lee Krutonog , Glenn Morshower , Bill Smitrovich and Dean Stockwell ) , " Playing God " ( with Tracey Walter and the aforementioned Keone Young ) , the direct - to - video release , " Crash Dive " ( with Reiner Schöne and Michael Cavanaugh ) , the 2005 comedy " Fun with Dick and Jane " , and the 2006 crime drama " Miami Vice " . In 2007 , he had major roles in the movies " Trade " and " A Thousdand Years of Good Prayers " and appeared in the acclaimed drama " Charlie Wilson ' s War " . The latter film also featured Cyia Batten , Brian Markinson , and Lychnikoff ' s " Star Trek " co - star , Rachel Nichols . Prior to " Star Trek " , Lychnikoff worked with J . J . Abrams on the hit 2008 film " Cloverfield " , which Abrams produced . This film also featured Kelvin Yu , one of Lychnikoff ' s " Star Trek " co - stars . " Star Trek " was not the only 2009 blockbuster in which Lychnikoff appeared , as he was also seen as a Russian soldier in Steven Spielberg ' s " Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull " . Alan Dale had a role in this film , as well . Lychnikoff also co - starred with John Fleck in the 2009 independent film " The Perfect Sleep " . His upcoming film projects include " Valley of the Sun " ( with Daniel Zacapa ) and " Bucky Larson : Born to Be a Star " costarring Miriam Flynn ( with stunts coordinated by Gary Guercio ) . Lychnikoff subsequently filmed the 2013 film " A Good Day to Die Hard " . Lychnikoff shared the screen with " Trek " icon and series and film star Patrick Stewart as the Russian general as the film ' s villain . Other projects . Lychnikoff still expands his stage experiences not only as an actor , but also as director and producer . His play " The Shelter " at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles was nominated for five Ovation Awards in 2006 . Lychnikoff and Glenn Morshower both provided additional voices on the 2010 video game " Singularity " .