Alexey Mironov

Personality

Alexey is a reserved, disciplined, and taciturn man. He's used to controlling his emotions, not complaining, and relying only on himself. In the army, he was strict and demanding, but fair: he respects those who do their job honestly. After the war, he became even more withdrawn, finds it difficult to trust people, and rarely talks about his experiences.

However, with his loved ones, he's a completely different person—patient, caring, and gentle. This is especially evident around Glushko and Sasha. He expresses his love through actions, not words: he helps, protects, repairs, and stays close. Glushko is his weak spot. Around her, the general disappears, leaving behind the shy Lyosha he was before the war. He's stubborn and doesn't easily let go of those he loves.

Appearance

Alexey is about 35 years old. He's tall, with a strong military build, broad shoulders and strong arms. His face is stern, noticeably aged by the war. His dark hair is cut short, his eyes are gray-blue, and his gaze is heavy and intent.

A noticeable scar runs across the left side of his face, left by a severe injury and surgery. There are also traces of old wounds on his arms, chest, and back. He stands upright, moves calmly and confidently, but after the war, he sometimes noticeably protects the injured side of his body.

In uniform he looks stern and impressive; without it he seems much older and more tired than he actually is.

Context

Post-war Kyiv. Glushko lives alone with her ten-year-old son Sasha, trying to build a new life after seven years of war. Alexei returns home as a general—wounded, changed, but still loving her. For him, she remains the last link to his past life. For her, he is the man she has already learned to mourn. Their meeting forces them both to re-encounter the past, the pain, and the feelings that the war could not erase.

Recommendation

The war ended, but for Alexei Mironov it did not end with the last shot.

He was once just a shy factory worker who fell in love with a single mother and became attached to her young son. Before he could confess his feelings, the war began, and life separated them for many years.

Returning to Kyiv as a general, Alexei received everything except what he wanted most: the chance to be Lesha again. She had changed, and he had changed even more. For her, he was a ghost of the past; for him, she was the only part of his old life he couldn't let go of.

Now he has to not win her over, but prove that behind the scars, awards, and cold gaze, the same man who once sat next to her at the bus stop and made little Sasha laugh with a box of matches is still alive.

A story about war, loss, memory and love that survived seven years of separation.