The Magnificent Five

Yuri Yuryevich Streltsov, 59, forensic expert and criminalist. Composure and cynicism: As befits a seasoned forensic expert, Streltsov approaches death strictly from a professional perspective. Subtle humor: His professional cynicism often manifests itself in a peculiar, dark sense of humor and ironic remarks. Intelligence and meticulousness: Streltsov is a classic St. Petersburg intellectual. He is meticulous, attentive to detail, and demands respect from his colleagues for his work and for the rules of investigative work. Reliability: For the "Magnificent Five," Yuri Yuryevich is an indispensable ally. His conclusions can always be relied upon—he will not overlook a single piece of evidence that could help the investigation solve even the most complex case.

Andrei Borisovich Golovanov, 47, Lieutenant Colonel, Department Head. The oldest of the three, more experienced, and calmer. He possesses an analytical mind and understands the psychology of criminals. His wife is a literature teacher. Therefore, Golovanov often quotes the classics and especially respects proverbs and sayings. Sometimes he comes up with gems like Chernomyrdin's. Golovanov has two daughters, whom he adores. The lieutenant colonel believes he keeps them under control, but in reality, they twist him around their little finger. However, this doesn't stop Andrei Borisovich from checking their suitors against the Ministry of Internal Affairs databases. He is a fishing enthusiast. While he comes across as a good-natured oaf, he is actually insightful, tough, and tenacious. He can find common ground with anyone. Appearance: A charming, respectable, stocky middle-aged man (the "folk" type of a reliable and sincere leader). Round, with soft features, a friendly, open gaze, and expressive facial expressions. Usually dressed in a formal uniform (police jacket), shirts and ties, or classic suits, as he holds a leadership position. (Dark hair, neat short haircut. Eyes: Green. Stature: Tall, large man with a confident, upright posture. Style: The formal uniform of a police lieutenant colonel, emphasizing his status.)

Dmitry Krasavchenko, 33, Captain. Senior operative. Handsome, a ladies' man. Single, lives with his parents in a large apartment downtown. His parents are renowned violinists who frequently tour, and are depicted on posters as prim and proper in suits. In reality, Dmitry sees his parents as the embodiment of chaos, which he has resisted since childhood. Krasavchenko is a creature unto himself. Very reserved, arrogant, and skeptical of his colleagues. He always wears a suit and tie. He carries hand sanitizer and uses it frequently. A stain on his jacket is akin to a disaster. He hates public catering. For him, hell is eating in the communal cafeteria. He speaks very correctly. He hates vulgarisms. He always corrects someone if they speak or write incorrectly. At the same time, he is crystal honest, intelligent, and well-educated. Appearance: Tall, approximately 187 cm. Slender, fit, and athletic. Light brown/blond hair. Usually wears a neat, short, model-style haircut. Gray-blue or gray-green hair. Correct, masculine, with a calm and confident gaze. His crystal-clear and meticulous nature is often reflected in his stern and open facial expression. Most often, he prefers a classic, well-groomed business style—formal suits, classic coats, and neatly ironed shirts, which flatter his tall stature.

Pavel Ilyich Shaposhnikov, 40, major, deputy department head. Women like him. He's unfaithful to his housewife. He's raising his son Igor, whom he loves dearly; they're friends. But he can forget his child at an amusement park or a football game, heading off to see his latest flame. His son hides this from his mother, but sometimes he lets it slip. Shaposhnikov's hobbies are hockey and football. As a true St. Petersburg native, he's a Zenit fan. He's generally fond of sports jargon and uses it frequently. Many compare the intensity and vibrancy of his speech to that of Dmitry Guberniev. Shaposhnikov is a true storyteller; he can talk his way out of anything. He lies often and with inspiration, but sometimes he slips up. His strength is that he never backs down from a challenge. Appearance: Slavic appearance with short hair, brown hair, blue eyes, and a height of 181 cm. Shaposhnikov has a reputation as a leading heartthrob and connoisseur of female beauty, so he always looks well-groomed and elegant. In addition to his uniform, he often wears stylish blazers and classic jackets over turtlenecks or shirts, emphasizing his status as a stately and confident man.

Timur Bubnov, 32. Captain. A visionary, a merry fellow, he's full of jokes. He seems a bit silly and dim-witted, but is actually intelligent and cunning. An Eastern man, he's hot-blooded. Sometimes he speaks with an exaggerated Caucasian accent. He loves to take risks and thinks paradoxically, which often helps him build theories. He's married to a blonde woman, Oksana, and has a daughter, Verochka. He doesn't cheat on his wife, although he admires other women. He drives a cheap Russian car and constantly modifies it. He lives in his father-in-law's apartment. His father-in-law, Anatoly Sergeyevich, is a retired lieutenant colonel in the military. Their relationship is contentious, but his mother-in-law doesn't interfere. Bubnov has a pedigree cat named Pharaoh, for whom he constantly searches for a bride and posts photos. Appearance: Southern European (Caucasian), average height (175 cm), strong build, brown eyes, expressive gaze, dark short eyebrows, dark hair; usually wears a neat short haircut and light stubble or a neat beard, which gives him a masculine appearance. On duty, he wears a classic semi-sporty civilian style (leather jackets, jeans, shirts) suitable for operational work.

Vladimir Kuzmin, 25, Senior Lieutenant. Programmer/analyst, works with databases. He's friends with Krasovsky. He enjoys computer games, music, and clubbing. Women are secondary to him, although he can occasionally be attracted to them. He's always up-to-date on the latest news—he learns it before anyone else, which often helps with investigations. He came to St. Petersburg from the provinces and lives in a rented apartment. He's constantly working odd jobs, making websites and writing software. He doesn't need the money. As a child, I fell in love with the movie "The Matrix." That's why I became a programmer. I'm sure I look like my idol, Keanu Reeves. Reeves is his computer wallpaper, his phone wallpaper, and Kuzmin has a portrait of Reeves hanging above his desk. Appearance: Vladimir Kuzmin is a young, charming man of average height, athletic build, short dark-blond hair, and distinctive features. On duty, he wears uniform or casual attire—simple jeans, jackets, sweatshirts, and T-shirts—which accentuate his "guy-from-the-next-door" image. He has an open, friendly smile and a lively demeanor. His appearance is relatable, which helps him both in his operational work and in his interactions with women. Kuzmin is the chief IT specialist and hacker of the "homicide" department, a computer genius. Unlike his brutal colleagues, his image is built on a combination of high intellect and a touch of romantic softness.

Anton Vetrov, 28, captain. A sturdy, quiet man, he loves the army and its order. For him, it's the epitome of a true man. He served in the paratroopers. He's a boxer and knows wrestling techniques. He's married. His wife, Lyudmila, is a therapist at a clinic. He has no children of his own. He adopted the child of his fallen friends. He lives in a mortgaged apartment and is paying off the mortgage, so he's often short of money. He loves to eat, especially the meatballs at the cafeteria, which the other characters can't even bear to look at. He's omnivorous. Nickname: Paratrooper. He constantly talks about his military past. A result of his interactions with his wife, he likes to flaunt medical terms, often without understanding their meaning. His strengths are courage, good-naturedness, and reliability. Appearance: Strong, athletic, with well-developed muscles (according to the plot, Vetrov is the team's "strong" force). Height: Tall (around 182–185 cm). Face: European-type, with large, strong features, a strong chin, and an open gaze. Hair: Dark blond, usually cut short. Typically dressed in simple civilian clothes (jackets, jeans, jumpers) or police uniform.