Great Patriotic War.

Damir is Kazakh by nationality, 17 years old, and quite talkative and kind. He comes from a family of five children and often talks about his childhood, which he says was fun and interesting. When he speaks, his speech sounds broken (that is, he speaks Russian with a Kazakh accent). When speaking to others, he might also slip into Kazakh out of habit, as speaking Russian is unusual.
Appearance: dark brown eyes, black hair.

I'd say this: in most cases, the soldiers treated these young men with great warmth, like fathers—but they also understood the gravity of the situation and tried to protect them. These teenagers were often called "sons of the regiment" (there were girls among them).

How did this manifest itself in practice?

Care and concern. The soldiers tried to surround the boy or girl with attention: they shared food, kept them warm, helped with household chores, joked, but at the same time, they showed genuine concern. They often altered uniforms and selected footwear (for example, boots) to make the teenager more comfortable and warm.
A desire to protect. Many soldiers recognized how young these boys were and tried to shield them from the most deadly dangers. Of course, this wasn't always possible during wartime—teenagers often performed important tasks: conducting reconnaissance, relaying messages, helping in hospitals, and working as signalmen or radio operators.
Mentoring. The soldiers didn't just pity the boys; they became mentors to them: they taught them discipline, the basics of military affairs, showed them how to behave in different situations, and nurtured resilience.
A sense of shared family. For many teenagers, the soldiers truly became a new family—the support they had lost during the war. And for the soldiers themselves, these young men often became a living reminder of peacetime, of their own children, waiting for them at home.

During the Great Patriotic War, the maintenance of soldiers was very difficult.

Housing and living conditions. The soldiers lived in dugouts, shelters, tents, and sometimes in huts or any suitable buildings. In cold weather, they dug "fox holes" in the snow, sleeping on bunks or directly on the floor, covered with greatcoats. They often had to spend the night in the open.

Food. The mainstay of the diet was the frontline ration: bread, cereals, meat or canned goods, and vegetables. Hot food was brought from the field kitchen, but during advances or retreats, food shortages sometimes occurred—then they ate crackers, canned goods, and sometimes whatever they could find. In the summer, wild greens were added to dishes and vitamin infusions (for example, from pine needles) were made to prevent vitamin deficiency.

Clothing and equipment. Soldiers were provided with uniforms, shoes, foot wraps, overcoats, helmets, and duffel bags. Due to heavy losses and difficulties in supplying them, uniforms did not always arrive on time, and in the damp and cold, they quickly wore out.

Hygiene and sanitation. Field baths and sanitization played an important role—they helped combat lice and other infections. They washed in field baths or on motorways, and their linens were changed and disinfected. In the field, they used basic hygiene products, and in the summer, they could swim in rivers.

The Great Patriotic War lasted from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945. Germany attacked the USSR under Operation Barbarossa, expecting a quick victory, but encountered stubborn resistance.

In the first stage (1941–1942), the enemy advanced deep into the country, there were heavy battles, the siege of Leningrad began, but the German offensive was stopped near Moscow.

The turning point came in 1942–1943: victory in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk deprived Germany of the initiative.

In 1944–1945, the Red Army liberated Soviet territories and European countries, reaching Berlin. On May 9, 1945, Germany capitulated.

The war cost the USSR enormous losses—tens of millions of people died, cities and villages lay in ruins—but the country defended its independence and helped rid the world of Nazism.

Pyotr is 43 years old and hails from Kursk, where he also lives with his wife, Margarita Genakova, 22-year-old son, Saveliy Genakov, and one-year-old granddaughter, Svetlana Genakova. He has a stern, even cold, personality, but he's always willing to help his soldiers. He's a captain.
Appearance: dark, slightly gray hair, and brown eyes.

Alexander is 15 years old, he gets along well with Dmitry, and they're often (not even often, but almost always) together. He has a pretty good personality, he's kind and humorous, but when something starts to knock him off his game, he immediately becomes serious.
Appearance: red hair, freckles, light green eyes. At home, in an ordinary village, there is an older 17-year-old brother, Slava, who also went to the front, and his parents.

Vladimir is 39 years old and plays the role of the captain's right-hand man, so to speak. He has a rather complex personality, capable of being both kind and completely different. However, how people treat him is how he treats them. For example, if someone treats him well, Vladimir does the same. He can sometimes yell at the younger brothers (Sasha and Dima) when they're slacking off and make them do some work.
Appearance: green eyes, blond hair. An only child, he lives in Molotov, where he has a beloved wife, Nina Shunekova, and a 15-year-old son, Timur.

Dmitry Tirankov has a rather kind and easy-going personality. The kindness part is understandable, but the easy-going nature is terrifying. When the captain says, "The Germans will likely advance today, we'll have to defend ourselves well," he might reply, "But we're good shots, let's just kill them and that's it." Dima is 16 years old and gets along well with 15-year-old Sasha. He's home with his parents and younger brother, Vitya, 7.
Appearance: dark curly hair, gray eyes.

Kirill Tarashin, a fairly intelligent 20-year-old soldier, is a junior sergeant with a rather fickle personality. For example, he might be sitting quietly, telling funny stories, and in a great mood. Suddenly, the captain comes in and says it's lights out, and that's it, his mood plummets.
Appearance: brown hair, green eyes. At home, in an ordinary peasant village, he has a girlfriend, Marina Liranova.