A boy's word

• Andrey Vasiliev.
• Height 180 cm.
• Tall, thin, light brown hair, blue eyes, expressive gaze. He got his nickname because of his coat.
• Age 16-17 years.
• Status: A diligent high school student, a pianist from a poor family. A member of the "Universam" club, he went from being a "chushpan" to a "kid."
• Initially, he is a shy, empathetic, and proper introvert. When he gets outside, he overcompensates: he becomes bold, cruel, and ready to fight. But inside, he remains vulnerable and sensitive. He is smart and capable of unconventional solutions.

• Kostya.
• Height 186 cm.
• Brunette, brown eyes, typical appearance of a youth gang leader of the late Soviet era.
• Age 29 years.
• Status: First leader of "Universam" (before Vova's arrival). A criminal, he imposed prison rules on the guys. He was kicked out of the group for ratting, lying, and drugs.
• Tough, cunning, cold-blooded, ruthless. Doesn't trust anyone, believes that sooner or later he will be betrayed. Doesn't attach importance to friendship and his word of honor. Possesses charisma and organizational skills, knows how to manipulate. Loves to drink.

• Vakhit Zimaletdinov.
• Height 178 cm.
• Tall, thin, brown hair, brown eyes, large eyes. Has a lisp.
• 17-18 years old
• One of the “supers” of the group.
• Reserved, silent, yet ironic and humane. Condescending, wise—reminiscent of a "yard dad" who knows not only the rules of the game, but also the hidden truth of life. He cares about the boys.

• Valera Turkin.
• Height 182 cm.
• Tall, athletic build, gray-green eyes, light brown curly hair. Doesn't keep his hair short. Wears dark sweaters and sweatshirts, a jacket with a maple leaf on the back, and knitted hats. Sporty street style.
• Age 17-18 years.
• “Super” status of the group, the right hand of Vova Adidas.
• Straightforward, principled, and conflict-prone. Strictly adheres to the laws of the group. Prone to aggression and cruelty, he lacks empathy. He speaks loudly and always expresses his opinion, but also has a sense of humor and is approachable. He puts the interests of the group above all else.

• Aigul Renatovna Akhmerova.
• Height 160 cm.
• Light brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin. The name translates from Turkic as "moon flower" - and her appearance matches it.
• Age 15 years.
• Status: Schoolgirl, violinist. In love with Marat.
• Modest, but with an inner core. Kind, friendly, obedient—that's how adults want her to be. Raised in a strict Tatar family with cold parents. A "good girl" who fell in love with a bully because of an unfulfilled need for freedom and rebellion.

• Irina Sergeevna.
• Height: 174 cm.
• Brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin.
• Age 23–25 years
• Status: Juvenile Inspector, Junior Police Lieutenant. Graduate of the Pedagogical Institute, joined the police through assignment.
• Dedicated to her work, she genuinely cares about teenagers. She has empathy and doesn't approach her duties formally. She believes that troubled teenagers can change their lives. She hides kids from the police and washes dishes in Andrey's apartment. Despite being on the other side of the fence, she genuinely cares for the gang members.

• Mikhail Tilkin.
• Height 175.
• A thin guy with light (brown) hair and gray-green eyes. He got his nickname because of his red hair. He has an ordinary teenage appearance, nothing particularly special.
• Age 16 years
• Status: Member of the "Universam", "shell". Lives with his grandmother, dreams of giving her a new iron.
• Cheerful, kind, sincere. Keeps his word - this trait became the cause of his death: he did not break his principles in front of his friends. Naive, but loyal.

• Marat Suvorov.
• Height 179.
• A strong guy with a short haircut, light brown hair, and brown eyes. He wears sportswear typical of the boys of that time - a "cockerel", a "valtovka", and a red and black terry scarf.
• Age 16-17 years.
• Status: Vova's step-younger brother. Member of the "Universam", "shell". In love with Aigul.
• Cocky, tries to be like his older brother in everything. Bold, ambitious, wants to be a leader. At the same time, he has a dualistic nature: on the one hand, he is a street hooligan, on the other, a sincerely loving and suffering teenager.

• Vladimir Kirillovich Suvorov.
• Height 187.
• Age 25 years.
• Brown hair, brown eyes, mustache (grew in the army). Wears a striped shirt that peeks out from under his sweater - part of the paratrooper's equipment.
• Status: One of the founders of the "Universam", a veteran of the Afghan War (served in a reconnaissance company). After returning, he replaced Koschei and became the leader.
• A charismatic leader with combat experience (likely PTSD). Fair, charming, and goal-oriented, but prone to impulsive and risky behavior. Acts under the influence of emotions. He has moral and philosophical inclinations—he believes in a bright future and is impressed by Gorbachev's speeches. He can philosophize, but his internal inhibitions against cruelty were removed by the war.

The hockey rink in the courtyard of the Khrushchev-era apartment buildings was the main gathering place. People would sew things up, cut them off, play football, and settle business here.

The basement/gym is a room that was set up by the Universal itself and served as the group's headquarters.

She was involved in robbery, protection rackets, and murder.

They are known for taking down banners from houses, sharpening stakes, and attacking the neighboring gang "Adelka" on holiday.

A low-profile group bordering the "Universal" store.

They rely on concepts, cunning, and brute force. They make money through protection rackets. The leader is Yellow.

Named after a street. Since the late 1980s, it has been the most influential organized crime group in Kazan: they seized a factory, created combat units and counterintelligence, and had millions of dollars in turnover.

Teplokontrol District. Kazan's first major gang shaped the city's criminal scene. They recruited schoolchildren, robbed passersby, ransacked stores, showed up at shootouts with grenades, and killed police officers.

The group got its name from the department store near which its members lived. It's a collective image of Kazan street gangs of the late 1980s. After Vova Adidas returned from the army, the "Universam gang" rejected prison rules and embraced the street way of life. They wanted to do business (opening a video store) and protect their own. Leaders changed: first Koschei, then Vova Adidas.