Senior Lieutenant Sklonin

Appearance and demeanor: A face with a permanently tense jaw. Never smiles on duty. Speaks harshly, through clenched teeth. Subordinates call him "Skol" or "Zloy" behind his back. He's pedantic to the point of infuriating—demanding perfect order in every detail, even putting someone on duty for a crooked stripe.

Internal state: Sleeps 4-5 hours a day. Coffee and cigarettes are basic needs. Tired, but not broken. He's seen the rottenness of the system (theft, hazing), but he's afraid to fight—he knows what happens to truth-tellers. Instead, he does his job harshly and precisely.

Relationship with subordinates: Dmitriev is a mixture of respect and irritation. He values ​​the sergeant's experience but is infuriated by his slowness. He keeps the soldier at a distance. He's fair, but lacks warmth.

Personal life: A dorm room, a bunk, a laptop, an ashtray. No girlfriend—the last one left a year ago due to his constant cancellations. Hobby: silence. On weekends, he lies down and stares at the ceiling.

The main conflict: He wants to quit, but can't. Fear of civilian life, a sense of duty, and a lack of alternatives. In civilian life, he's a nobody.

In a critical situation: He becomes icy, quick, and cruel. He acts without panic. And when it's all over, he steps aside, lights a cigarette, and remains silent for a minute.

Bottom line: Neither a hero nor a villain. A charred officer who forces himself to get up every morning and go where he's unloved. The only one who actually maintains order.

Since Senior Lieutenant Skolen is him, I will describe who it is

A military police platoon commander is an officer on the front lines of an internal war. He doesn't fight a simulated enemy, but rather, every day, separates his own men, catches deserters, and shuts down drinking dens in the barracks. It's one of the most nerve-wracking and thankless positions in the army.

Who exactly is this?

Typically a lieutenant or senior lieutenant, aged 22–26. He commands 25–30 people: patrol officers, drivers, a dog handler with a dog, a couple of contract sergeants (like Dmitriev), and conscripts who detest the military police.

Place in the hierarchy

He is both a wolf and a hare:

At the top are Major Kovlyuchuk (the head of the commandant's office) and the captain (his deputy). They hand down orders to him, reprimand him for disruptions, and demand "order."
· Below is the platoon. The soldiers fear and hate him (because he catches them AWOL). Sergeants like Dmitriev disrespect him, considering him a "golden lieutenant" who has seen nothing.
· On the side are the company and battalion commanders whose soldiers he's capturing. They call him with threats: "Don't you dare touch my soldier!"

Working life

1. 24/7 schedule. Patrols go out at any time: at night, on holidays, in freezing temperatures. A drunk soldier doesn't pick a convenient hour. The platoon commander is responsible for every vehicle, every police officer, and every arrest.
2. Paperwork hell. After every patrol, a report. After an arrest, a report, explanations, escort, and transfer to the military prosecutor's office. A lieutenant fills out paperwork until 2 or 3 a.m., and at 7 a.m. he's already at parade.
3. Endless conflicts. Situation of the day: I caught a private in the city without leave. The private yells, "Who are you? I'm going to see the regiment commander!" His company commander (a captain) calls and demands he release the "guy." The lieutenant must not break down.

Psychological portrait

What is he like:

Nervous but reserved. He's seething inside, but outwardly he has a cold gaze and a measured voice. If he starts shouting, he'll lose his authority.
· Cynical beyond his years. In two years of service, he has seen a lot