War is war

A scout from the assigned group, Senior Sergeant Voronov, episodic *

• Personality. *Reticent, cautious, accustomed to relying on his own observations. Dislikes jumping to conclusions: first he gathers all the details, then draws a conclusion. He has the calm confidence of a professional who knows the price of every mistake.
• Appearance. *Of average height, wiry, his movements are economical, as if he is conserving his energy. His face is inconspicuous, memorable only for his attentive, slightly narrowed eyes.
• Clothing. *Field uniform, deliberately faded in places to blend into the terrain. On his belt are a knife, compass, and tablet. Sometimes wears captured items if they are more convenient.
• Fears. *Afraid of missing an important detail, afraid that his intelligence will be inaccurate and that his own people will suffer because of it. He is also afraid of not returning from a mission.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 28-30 years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *He loved topography, could read tracks, and determine the direction of movement by barely noticeable signs. Before the war, he went hiking.
• What did he want to do after the war? He wanted to teach topography and orienteering at a youth club: he thought it was important for kids to understand nature and not get lost.

Signalman at the communications center (Private Tikhonov, *

• Character. *Attentive, collected, does not like to be distracted. In a stressful situation, he does not fuss, but methodically checks the connections. A little shy, but when it comes to technology, he becomes confident and even stubborn: he knows that wires and devices do not tolerate carelessness.
• Appearance. *Thin, short; narrow face, neat features. His eyes seem to be constantly listening for sounds - he is used to catching the slightest interference in the air.
• Clothing. *Ordinary field uniform; on his shoulder - a bag with spools of wire, often a coil of cable in his hands. Around his neck - telephone receivers or a headset, which he does not take off for a long time.
• Fears. *Afraid of losing contact at a critical moment, afraid that the line will be damaged, and he will not have time to restore it. He is also afraid that his report will not reach desired addressee.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 20-22 years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *He loved radio technology; before the war, he assembled simple receivers. He dreamed of understanding complex communication systems.
• What he wanted to be after the war. He wanted to work at a telephone exchange or a radio center: he liked that voices and news passed through him, and he could connect people.

Uncle Misha, the regimental cook *

• Personality. *Good-natured, but demanding: he keeps the kitchen in order, and he strictly enforces it. He likes to joke, but when it comes to food for the soldiers, jokes aside. He believes that a well-fed soldier is half the victory.
• Appearance. *A large, stocky man with a simple, open face. Always a little smeared with flour or soot from the field kitchen, but he doesn't look sloppy, as if he's "at work." He has a wide, inviting smile.
• Clothing. *A uniform with an apron, which he almost never takes off; on his head, he wears a cap or a forage cap to keep it out of the way.
• Fears. *He's afraid that there won't be enough food, that the kitchen will come under fire, and the people will be left without hot food. He's also worried that some of the soldiers will get sick from bad food.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 45-50 years old.
• Hobbies and Interests. *He loved coming up with new variations of simple dishes: how to make something filling and tasty from a minimum of ingredients. He loved telling stories about pre-war feasts.
• What did he want to be after the war? He wanted to open a canteen or a café in his city: so that people could come, eat hot food, and feel at ease.

Truck Driver, Private Kulikov, *

• Character. *Silent, thorough. Doesn't like unnecessary words, but does everything reliably. If he promises to deliver a cargo on time, he will do it, no matter the cost. A little grumpy, but fair: if one of the young fighters is trying hard, he will always cheer them up.
• Appearance. *A strong, stocky man; his face is weathered, with deep wrinkles from the sun and wind. His gaze is calm, assessing - as if he is always calculating the road and possible obstacles.
• Clothing. *Infantry field uniform, often worn with a padded jacket over it; on his head is an ushanka or a peaked cap, depending on the weather. On his feet are tarpaulin boots, which have seen better days.
• Fears. *Afraid of getting stuck on a washed-out road, afraid of losing the vehicle and the cargo that is waiting at the front. He's also afraid of letting down the people who rely on his delivery.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 35-40 years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *He loved technology, could spend hours tinkering with the engine, and knew all the quirks of his truck. Before the war, he worked in a motor pool.
• What did he want to be after the war? He dreamed of returning to his home fleet and teaching young drivers: passing on his experience and making sure the vehicles were in good working order.

Medical Instructor Lyuba *

• Character. *Calm, collected, and does her job without unnecessary fuss. She doesn't display ostentatious bravery, but has an iron self-control: she doesn't lose her composure even under fire. She treats the soldiers like a mother, but without coddling them—more like firm concern.
• Appearance. *A young woman, slender, but with a strong, "working" posture. Her face is open but focused, as if she's listening every second: does anyone need urgent help? Her eyes are attentive, quick.
• Clothing. *Field uniform of the medical service, a first-aid bag over her shoulder; sometimes a raincoat is thrown over it if she's on the march. A red cross on her sleeve.
• Fears. *Afraid of not getting to the wounded in time, afraid that a mistake will only make things worse. What scares her most is the thought of having to leave someone without help due to lack of strength and time.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 23-25 ​​years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *Before the war, she studied at a medical school and loved botany: she learned which herbs could be used in the field.
• What did she want to do after the war? She wanted to work in a district hospital to be closer to people and help them in peacetime.

Colonel Valentin Basov — commander of the self-propelled artillery regiment *

• Character. *Strict, but fair; knows how to be tough when necessary, and gentle when a person has truly given it his all. Values ​​discipline, but values ​​loyalty to the cause even more.
• Appearance. *Solid, with a military bearing; facial features are calm, but there is a sense of firmness in them. His gaze is direct, as if he is always assessing the situation.
• Clothing. *Neat regiment commander's uniform, without frills; awards - according to regulations, not for show.
• Fears. *Afraid of making a decision that will lead to unnecessary losses; afraid of not maintaining the momentum of the offensive and giving the enemy a respite.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *About 45-50 years old.
• Hobbies and Interests. *He loved maps and topography; he could spend hours poring over diagrams, calculating possible options.
• What did he want to do after the war? He wanted to stay in the army, but as a teacher—teaching young commanders to think one step ahead.

The mistress of the house, Antonina Vasilyevna *

• Character. *Quiet, collected, tries not to complain, although life has battered her greatly. She treats the soldiers with maternal care, but without unnecessary sentimentality: she feeds them, cleans, says a few calm words - and that is enough.
• Appearance. *A middle-aged woman, with tired but kind eyes; a simple face, with a slight stamp of experience, unhurried, measured movements.
• Clothing. *Simple village clothes: a skirt, a blouse, a scarf; everything is clean, but very worn.
• Fears. *She is afraid for her children and that the war will leave no one alive in the village; she is afraid of not having time to do the most necessary things before disaster strikes.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 45-50 years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *She loved to embroider simple patterns and bake bread; during difficult times, these activities were what kept her going.
• What did she want to be after the war? She simply wanted to live in her own home, to hear children's voices around her again, and to be able to sit by the window in the evenings and know there would be no bombing tomorrow.

Lieutenant Pashka Telenkov — self-propelled gun commander *

• Character. *Reasonable, calm, knows how to keep up the pace and not give in to panic. In battle, he acts precisely, without unnecessary words. He treats young commanders with understanding: he knows how difficult the first months are.
• Appearance. *Strong, with a simple, open face; his movements reveal the confidence of a man accustomed to relying on himself.
• Clothing. *Worn field uniform; stripes on the sleeve indicate combat experience.
• Fears. *Afraid of miscalculating a maneuver and letting the crew down; afraid that fatigue will lead to a mistake.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *About 25–27 years old.
• Hobbies and Interests. *He loved chess and simple logic problems—he said it helped him keep his head clear.
• What did he want to be after the war? He wanted to return to his hometown and work in a factory, perhaps in a design bureau: he liked it when parts turned into something reliable and useful.

Junior Lieutenant Cheginichka *

• Personality. *A bit fussy, diligent, wants to do everything right, but sometimes makes mistakes in his haste. He has a lot of youthful zeal, which others perceive differently: some smile, while others help in a fatherly way.
• Appearance. *Young, thin, with slightly sharpened features; in his eyes - the desire to do everything in time and not let you down.
• Clothing. *Academy graduate uniform: not yet shabby, but no longer as neat as in the first days.
• Fears. *Afraid of making a mistake that will lead to losses; afraid of looking ridiculous in the eyes of experienced soldiers.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *About 20-22 years old.
• Hobbies and Interests. *Before the war, he was into aircraft modeling; sometimes in conversation, he'd recall how satisfying it was to see something fly smoothly and accurately.
• What did he want to be after the war? He wanted to work in an aviation club, teach kids how to build models, and dream of the sky.

Lieutenant Colonel Timofey Vasilyevich — deputy political officer *

• Character. *Calm, reasonable, knows how to speak to soldiers not with slogans, but in simple words. He does not push people with authority, but they listen to him because he speaks from his own experience. He does not have a showy firmness, but he has an inner fortitude.
• Appearance. *A middle-aged man, his face is tired but collected; his gaze is attentive, as if he is trying to discern something important in each person.
• Clothing. *Standard field uniform, without unnecessary insignia; on his chest are modest awards, which he does not flaunt.
• Fears. *Afraid that his words will be empty and will not help people hold on in difficult times; afraid of losing contact with the soldiers, stopping understanding them.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 40–45 years old.
• Hobbies and interests. *He loved to read, especially Russian classics; in rare moments of calm, he could read a short story or poem aloud.
• What did he want to do after the war? He wanted to teach literature in school—he thought it was important to impart not only knowledge but also a sense of words to people.

Senior Lieutenant Boris Selivanov – commander of the "trophy men" *

• Personality. *Practical, resourceful, but not cynical: for him, "trophies" are not profit, but resources for the front. He loves to joke and knows how to defuse a tense situation. He has a touch of adventurism, but he doesn't take unnecessary risks.
• Appearance. *Of average height, wiry, with lively, slightly mocking eyes; his movements are slightly casual, as if he manages everything and doesn't take anything too seriously.
• Clothing. *Field uniform, patched in places, but neat; he often wears trophy items not for show, but for convenience – for example, a German tablet or gloves.
• Fears. *He's afraid of missing out on something important for the regiment (for example, a working radio or ammunition), and he's afraid of letting his comrades down by making a hasty decision.
• Nationality. *Russian.
• Age. *Around 28-30 years old.
• Hobbies and Interests. *He enjoys tinkering with technology, especially captured equipment; he enjoys explaining how German devices work.
• What he wanted to be after the war. He dreamed of opening a small equipment repair shop—he enjoyed bringing broken things back to life.

Corporal Osip Byankin *(Fyodor Odinokov)

• Character: *simple, good-natured, a little simple. A loyal crew member who supports his comrades.
• Appearance: *short, with an open face, sometimes with a comically naive expression.
• Clothing: *a worn loader's uniform, patched in places.
• Fears: *fears for his comrades, afraid of mistakes that could cost the lives of the entire crew.
• Nationality: *Russian.
• Age: *about 25-30 years old.
• Hobbies and interests: *loves simple soldierly joys, jokes, songs.
• What he wanted to become after the war: dreamed of returning to ordinary life, to his family.

Sergeant Major Grigory Shcherbak *(Viktor Pavlov)

• Character: *unlucky, sometimes sloppy, but loyal to his comrade. In a critical moment, he is able to pull himself together and act.
• Appearance: *strong, with rough features, sometimes unkempt.
• Clothing: *uniform, stained in places, battered - reflects his everyday, sometimes chaotic service.
• Fears: *afraid of letting the crew down, losing the vehicle, not being able to handle the controls in a stressful situation.
• Nationality: *Russian.
• Age: *about 30-35 years old.
• Hobbies and interests: *loves technology, tinkers with cars, considers himself an expert.
• What he wanted to be after the war: dreamed of returning to a peaceful profession related to technology.

Sergeant Mikhail Domeshek *(Oleg Borisov)

• Character: *Lively, choleric, with a good sense of humor. An experienced soldier who looks down on his young commander, but displays courage in battle. In the film, his death becomes the key tragic moment.
• Appearance: *strong, with expressive features, a mixture of experience and irony in his eyes.
• Clothes: *a worn but neat gunner's uniform.
• Fears: *is aware of the mortal danger of clashes with heavy German equipment (for example, with Tigers).
• Nationality: *Russian.
• Age: *about 25-30 years old.
• Hobbies and interests: *likes to tell stories, joke to defuse the situation.
• What he wanted to become after the war: dreamed of returning to ordinary life, to his family.

Junior Lieutenant Alexander Maleshkin *

• Personality: *Young, inexperienced, naive, and simple-minded. He constantly finds himself in awkward situations, which makes him the butt of jokes. However, in critical moments, he is capable of decisive action. Dreams of performing a heroic deed and receiving a reward.

• Appearance: *young, looks younger than his years, with an open, slightly confused face.

• Clothes: *military uniform of a military academy graduate - not yet shabby, but no longer new.

• Fears: *afraid of betraying trust, appearing a coward, losing authority with subordinates and superiors.

• Nationality: *Russian.

• Age: *about 20-22 years old (recent academy graduate).

• Hobbies and interests: *before the war, he was carried away by romantic dreams of heroic deeds, loved to dream of meeting a girl.

• What he wanted to become after the war: *dreamed of a peaceful life, wanted to return to ordinary human joys - love, family.

Senior Commanders (Colonels, Political Officers) *

• Appearance and Clothing. *Standard uniform of senior Red Army officers: tunics, belts, caps, and sometimes greatcoats. In headquarters scenes—with maps and clipboards—they appear more worn and tired, while in the field.
• Personality. They are portrayed as men bearing enormous responsibility. They are demanding, but understand the value of every soldier and every decision. Their lines set the scale of events: this is not a local story, but part of a larger offensive.

Private Gromykhalo from the village of Podmyshki (Yuri Dubrovin) *

• Appearance and clothing. *A simple infantryman: tunic and trousers, rolled-up overcoat, helmet, and duffel bag. He looks tired, but not broken.
• Personality. A typical "compatriot" with a sense of humor and resourcefulness. His presence alongside the crew adds a touch of everyday reality to the film: he speaks in simple language, is not shy about his fears and hopes, and thus brings the officers and soldiers closer together.

Captain Sergachev *(Pyotr Gorin) — the commander of the self-propelled gun battery. Strict, demanding, dissatisfied with Maleshkin's sluggishness.

• Lieutenant Bezzubtsev *(Boris Tabarovsky) — the new battalion commander, replacing Sergachev.
• Colonel Dey *(Mikhail Gluzsky) — the commander of the tank regiment.
• Private Gromykhalo *(Yuri Dubrovin) — assigned to Maleshkin's self-propelled gun, originally from the village of Podmyshki.
• Senior Lieutenant Selivanov (Boris Sichkin) — the commander of the "trophy men."

Inside the SU-100 self-propelled gun. *The most "personal" space. Cramped, metal, with instruments, levers, and ammunition. Here, the crew lives like in a small house: they quarrel, make peace, joke, and prepare for battle. It is in this confined space that you can best see how people adjust to each other.

• The front line and positions of the self-propelled gun regiment. *Trenches, observation posts, broken roads, craters, and burnt-out equipment. This is the "working" landscape of war: not a ceremonial one, but pitted, dirty, and dangerous. Here, marches, deployments, short breaks, and surprise attacks take place.

• A village and a peasant hut. *A warm, "peaceful" space in the midst of war. In the hut, the crew rests, singing the song "Tanks Roared Across the Field," and the contrast between this homely simplicity and what awaits them tomorrow on the front lines is especially palpable.

• Headquarters and command posts. *Field tents, dugouts, tables with unfolded maps, telephones, lamps. Here, decisions are made, tasks are assigned, and the readiness of units is checked. The atmosphere is tense, businesslike, without unnecessary emotions.

• Roads and crossings. Poor dirt roads, bridges, fords, corduroy roads. This is a space of movement and risk: the column is vulnerable on the march, equipment gets stuck, enemy aircraft and artillery strike the crossings. It is on the roads and at the crossings that the first clashes often occur.

Junior Lieutenant Alexander Maleshkin is appointed commander of a self-propelled artillery unit. All of his subordinates are experienced front-line soldiers who fought long before he graduated from the academy. This creates tension within the crew: Maleshkin's authority is tested at every turn.

During the first days of service, the crew is constantly experiencing minor but annoying hiccups: the equipment fails, someone disrupts the order, or the lieutenant himself, trying to follow regulations, only makes the situation worse. Battery commander Captain Sergachev is dissatisfied and makes no secret of it: he wants results, not effort.

Gradually, Maleshkin realizes that bookish rules alone don't earn respect. Trust must be earned through actions: being there when it's dangerous, not hiding behind others, noticing what's important to each soldier. The crew also gradually accepts the lieutenant: not because of his rank, but because they see his honesty and willingness to take responsibility for the common cause.

The regiment prepares for an offensive. Specific combat missions are assigned: infantry support, reaching designated positions, and coordinating with tanks and artillery. Maleshkin's crew receives orders to advance to the front lines. During the march and the initial skirmishes, each man's strengths and weaknesses are revealed: Domeshek is a precise aimer, Shcherbak masterfully navigates the terrain, Byankin calmly and quickly loads his gun, and Maleshkin learns to make quick decisions in the chaos of battle.

Situations arise where the cost of a mistake is the lives of comrades. In these circumstances, past grievances and taunts fade into the background, and teamwork takes center stage. The crew begins to function as a single unit, and this becomes the key step toward Maleshkin's transition from being a "green lieutenant" to becoming a true commander.