Grigory Gubin

Despite his high status in the criminal underworld, he remained remarkably shy in his personal life. He rarely dated and believed that love could not be bought with money or power. That's why meeting a headstrong girl who was undaunted by his reputation or position changed him far more than his life in crime ever had.

Grigory was considered a man of his word in the group. He never betrayed his own, never raised a hand against women or children, and always kept his promises. Even his enemies acknowledged that if Bulava gave his word, he would keep it at any cost. That's why Sokolov trusted him more than most of his men, and Philip Ostapenko called him "the calmest man among all those who bear arms."

It was there that Taras Sokolov's people noticed him.

The future crime boss needed a man not only strong but also disciplined, able to keep secrets and make decisions without unnecessary emotion. Grigory was long persuaded to join the gang. He resisted, but constant poverty and a lack of prospects forced him to agree.

At first, he served as a driver and security guard, then as a cargo and cash handler. Thanks to his calm, prudent, and unconditional loyalty, he quickly became one of Sokolov's most trusted men.

It was then that he earned the nickname "Bulava." Unlike most members of the group, Grigory disliked senseless violence. He preferred to resolve issues through negotiations, but if force was necessary, he acted quickly and without hesitation.

When an alliance was formed between Taras Sokolov's Kharkiv organization and Pylyp Ostapenko's Kyiv group, Bulava was entrusted with liaison between the two cities. He accompanied important meetings, transported large sums of money, oversaw deliveries, and often acted as a mediator in negotiations. Over time, he began to be respected in Kyiv as well, considered a man whose word was almost equal to Sokolov's own.

Having received the money, Grigory's first priority was to ensure a decent life for his grandmother. He bought an apartment in Kharkiv, built a house outside the city, bought a car, and did everything he could to ensure she would never again be in need.

Grigory was born into a poor family. His father died before he was born, and his mother, an alcoholic, left him to be raised by his own mother and soon disappeared, fleeing to the Caucasus. They never saw her again.

His grandmother became the boy's only close friend. It was she who instilled in him a love of books, order, and learning. At school, Grigory was considered one of the best students. He rarely argued, read a lot, and dreamed of getting a higher education.

However, his quiet nature made him a constant target for ridicule. His classmates called him a nerd, beat him up, and humiliated him. The turning point was a fight during which his glasses were broken and he was beaten right after class.

After this incident, Grigory changed. He didn't drop out of school, but he took up sports seriously. Every day began with jogging and training. Within a few years, the skinny teenager had grown into a tall, physically fit young man.

In the late 1980s, he enrolled in one of Kharkiv's top universities, where he studied economics and industrial management. To help support his grandmother, he worked at a factory on the side.

After the collapse of the USSR, his normal life collapsed. The factory closed, his diploma was practically useless, and finding stable employment was impossible. For several years, he scraped by with odd jobs—working as a loader, a security guard, and a market vendor.

Grigory Viktorovich Gubin (“Bulava”)

Date of birth: 1967
Place of birth: a small village in the Kharkiv region
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 92 kg
Appearance: Short-cropped dark blond hair, gray-green eyes, and a strong build. A barely noticeable scar on the bridge of his nose from an old break left over from a school fight. He's almost always clean-shaven and prefers classic coats, shirts, and expensive watches without unnecessary frills.

He has a relaxed attitude toward money. He appreciates a good suit, a quality watch, and an expensive car, but he would never flaunt his wealth. For him, money is primarily a way to ensure the safety of his loved ones.

Grigory is surprisingly shy in his relationships with women. He's not a flirt and becomes flustered when feelings are reciprocated. All his composure vanishes when he's with a woman he truly loves. This is why he's capable of courting one woman for months without trying to buy her attention with money or his position.

Among his men, he has a dry sense of humor. He rarely jokes, but when he does, he usually hits the mark. Even Sokolov sometimes laughs at his short, unexpected remarks.

For Taras Sokolov, Bulava is a man you can trust with the most important things. Not because he's the strongest or the cruelest, but because he never breaks his word.

Filip Ostapenko's men treat him with the same respect. In Kyiv, he's known as a man who comes not to create problems, but to solve them. He knows how to negotiate between factions without humiliating either side, so his word is often the final one in negotiations.

From the outside, Grigory appears cold, even indifferent. He rarely smiles, almost never raises his voice, and dislikes drawing attention to himself. Many mistake his silence for arrogance, but in reality, he simply sees no point in saying more than necessary.

He's used to observing first and acting later. While others argue, Grigory analyzes what's happening. Thanks to this, he rarely makes mistakes in people's judgment. He quickly notices lies, fear, and insecurity, and understands perfectly when a person can be manipulated and when it's best to leave them alone.

He's impossible to anger with mere insults. Childhood teasing taught him patience. He stopped responding to words long ago. But if someone betrays his trust or harms those he considers his own, then all his restraint vanishes. At such moments, Bulava becomes more dangerous than the most hot-tempered people, because he acts not on emotion, but prudently. Grigori dislikes senseless cruelty. For him, violence is a tool, not a pleasure. He never beats someone for fun and does not tolerate such behavior among his own. If a problem can be solved by talking, he will choose to talk. If there is no choice, he will hit once, but in such a way that a second blow is not necessary.

Despite his life of crime, he remains a remarkably disciplined man. He wakes up early, continues to exercise, reads a lot, and always pays attention to his appearance. Even at home, his things are kept in their proper places. Disorder irritates him almost physically.

His grandmother occupies a special place in his life. She's the only person in front of whom he feels not like the stern Sokolov, but rather like that quiet boy with the round glasses. For her sake, he's willing to give up almost anything.

*A word is more valuable than money.

• You don't abandon your own.
  *If you draw a weapon, be prepared to use it.
• Never touch children or women who are not involved in the matter.
  Try to solve any problem with your head first, and only then with your fists.

*Betrayal.

• Empty promises.
  *People who humiliate the weak.
• Alcoholics (because of the mother).
  *Screaming and hysterics.
• Disorder.
  *When someone touches his things without permission.
• Insulting children
  Fish

Black tea without sugar.
*Old books and newspapers.

• Morning jogs.
  *Chess.
• Autumn weather.
  *The smell of tobacco and fresh wood.
• Long drives at night.