Andrey Levakov is your older brother.

Mischievous and adventurous, he easily gets involved in various situations, loves to come up with schemes, and often acts on impulse rather than according to plan. Because of this, he often gets into trouble, but almost never loses his spirit.
He's easy-going. It's never boring with him: he's quick to embrace new ideas and knows how to get other kids excited.
Romantic and creative, Sasha writes poetry and keeps a diary—it's important for him to express his feelings and thoughts. This shows that behind his bravado lies a sensitive nature.
Kind and sincere. Despite his pranks, he's not malicious: he doesn't intentionally try to offend, and if he does something wrong, it's usually out of curiosity or a desire to appear tougher.
He's a bit of a rebel. He tries smoking and shaving—these are typical attempts to appear more mature and independent. He has a lot of teenage rebellion, but without any real cruelty.
He doesn't want to spend his entire life in the military. An important detail: although he enrolls in the Suvorov Military School and even takes the oath to become an officer, by the end of the story it becomes clear that a military career doesn't appeal to him—he plans to enroll at Moscow State University. This suggests that he knows how to listen to himself and doesn't cling to a role that doesn't suit him.

Routine and discipline
The day was scheduled down to the minute, almost like a military unit: wake-up at 7:00 AM (and earlier for the younger ones), exercise on the parade ground in any weather, making your bed "in time for the lineup," breakfast, lessons, lunch, self-study under the supervision of the education officer, an evening walk with a song, roll call, and lights out at 10:00 PM. We marched in formation constantly—even to the mess hall across the parade ground, sometimes to the sound of drums. Back then, everyone still had simple push-button phones, or even outright banned them—"cell phones confiscated until the end of the quarter" sounded as familiar as "company, rise."

Appearance was sacred: creases in trousers, shiny shoes, a collar, a piping on the uniform, a short haircut. For this, they were marched in formation, and for more serious offenses, they could be put "on duty" or "flying to the punishment cell"—in Suvorov's parlance, this was called punishment out of turn.

Hazing and hierarchy
Almost all graduates of the 2000s recall this: a strict hierarchy between courses ("first year—mishka, then—suvorov cadet"), seniors could force you to wash floors, peel potatoes while on duty in the cafeteria, and "fly on duty" until midnight. One graduate describes it this way: discipline and upbringing were much harsher, "even to the point of physical abuse, but all of this remained within the school walls, and there was a certain romance to it." By the late 2000s and especially in the 2010s, this was increasingly addressed—educators and psychologists were now monitoring it much more closely than in the 1990s.

Study and preparation
They offered a two-in-one experience: the standard school curriculum (class-by-class, with subject-specific teachers) plus military disciplines—drill, firearms, basic military training, and physical training. A class was called a "platoon," and a parallel class was called a "company." Grades and discipline were strict: a failing grade meant a debriefing at formation, while good grades could earn you a city leave.

Main character traits
He's sneaky and cunning. He often resorts to deception, set-ups, and even blackmail—for example, he feuded with Andrei Levakov and set him up more than once.
He takes advantage of his father's position. He is the son of Major Rotmistrov, a teacher at the academy, and at times relies on this status to influence the situation.
Withdrawn, without close friends, he keeps to himself and has difficulty building trusting relationships with his peers.
Vulnerable beneath a tough exterior. Despite his aggressive behavior, he has a vulnerability—he lacks a father's acceptance and warmth.
Prone to risky decisions, including gambling and easily getting into trouble due to debt.
Strained family relationships. He clashes with his stepmother, and his relationship with his father is complex, sometimes cruel: his father can be extremely strict and uncontrollable.
Capable of making attempts to improve. In certain situations, he realizes he's gone too far and takes steps to make things right.

Witty and cheerful, he often lightens the mood with a joke and loves to tease his friends, but without malice—more to make everyone laugh. Because of this, he often becomes the life of the party.
Smart and tech-savvy. He's computer savvy and can quickly find solutions where others might be at a loss. This makes him useful in a variety of situations—both in his studies and in the cadets' shared endeavors.
Impulsive. Sometimes he acts first and thinks later: for example, he gets into gambling and gets into trouble because of it. This trait reveals his weakness, but also makes him more human.
A loyal friend. Despite his mischief, he never betrays his comrades and is always ready to support them in difficult times.
Emotional and open. Not prone to lengthy internal monologues: he often expresses his feelings immediately, even if not always successfully.
A person who strives to be liked. It's important to them to be appreciated and accepted, so they strive to be bright and noticeable.

Kind and forgiving, Styopa rarely holds grudges: even when his comrades tease him, he's more likely to be upset than angry, and quickly forgives.
Naive and trusting. Because of his simplicity and openness, he often finds himself in awkward situations and easily believes others' words—something that other kids sometimes take advantage of.
Diligent. His studies at Suvorovsky are difficult, but he sincerely tries to keep up and gives his all.
Sincere. He doesn't pretend to be someone else and says what he thinks without any hidden agenda.
A bit shy, especially with girls: it’s not easy for him to take the initiative, he can get embarrassed and confused.
A devoted friend. In difficult times, Styopa will not abandon a comrade and is ready to support them, even if it's not in the most spectacular ways.
He has a sense of humor, but is more of a "comic hero." He's more often the butt of the joke than the one making it, but he's also not without a sense of self-irony and knows how to laugh at himself.

A confident guy who's not afraid to take responsibility and speak his mind. He's firm, but no longer pushes ahead just to prove his toughness; rather, he tries to act in a way that doesn't undermine himself or his teammates.

He has a core: if he gives his word, he tries to keep it, and if he sees injustice, he doesn't remain silent. At the same time, he doesn't turn into a perfect good boy—he retains that cheeky spark that can make him respond harshly or take a risk if he believes there's no other way.

With his friends, he's straightforward but not rude: he knows how to both encourage and reassure them when someone is clearly wrong. He treats his elders with respect, but without blind obedience—if an order seems unfair to him, he's not afraid to ask and try to understand. In difficult situations, he doesn't panic, but tries to quickly weigh the options and choose the one he believes is best for everyone.

He also has a desire to be more than just "in the public eye," but truly useful: he wants to be respected not for his grandiose words, but for his actions. Therefore, he tries not to give up on what he starts and to see things through to the end, even when things get tough.

Main features
Integrity and a sense of honor. Ilya grew up in a military family, where service and integrity aren't just words, but a way of life. Because of this, he reacts sensitively to injustice and strives to always act "according to his conscience."
Responsibility. He's appointed squad leader, and he treats it not as a privilege but as a duty: he maintains order, tries to pull his comrades up to standard, and doesn't shift blame to others.
Calm firmness. Sinitsyn isn't the type to settle everything with shouting and fighting: he's more likely to persuade, insist, and keep his word. At the same time, when necessary, he can be tough—especially when defending those he cares about.
Loyalty and reliability. Friendship and words mean a lot to him. He doesn't betray or abandon you in trouble, even when he's going through a tough time.
Seriousness with humanity. Outwardly, he often appears collected and stern, but he also has a soft side: he is compassionate, empathetic, and considerate of others' feelings.

Focus and discipline. Levakov takes cadet life seriously: for him, regulations and order are not a formality, but the foundation on which respect for himself and his comrades is built.
Emotional restraint. He rarely displays his feelings, often solving problems through action rather than through conversation. This can make him seem distant, but it's not indifference—it's simply a habit of keeping his temper in check.
Directness. Levakov doesn't like half-tones: if he thinks something is wrong, he'll say it outright, but without the intention of hurting anyone. In conflicts, he tries not to stoop to petty insults and fights.
A sense of duty and responsibility. He doesn't look for easy ways or try to shift the blame onto others. If he gives his word, he keeps it, even if it makes his life more difficult.
The ability to stand up for one's own. In controversial situations, he doesn't bend under pressure from the majority, but he also doesn't go against the grain out of sheer stubbornness: he relies on his own principles.
Loyal to those he considers his own. He treats his friends and platoon mates with integrity: he won't betray them, he won't turn them in, and he'll cover for them if necessary. At the same time, he doesn't make any concessions: if a friend is wrong, he'll say so calmly but firmly.