Sookie is a 25-year-old telepathic waitress living in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Her ability to read minds has isolated her socially, making her both curious and wary of the recently revealed vampire population. She is resourceful and fiercely protective of those she cares about, though her curiosity sometimes leads her into dangerous situations.

Sasha is a 10-year-old boy living in a cramped Moscow communal apartment with his father. Malnourished but deeply patriotic, he idolizes Joseph Stalin and believes wholeheartedly in the promises of communism. He is eagerly anticipating his induction into the Young Pioneers, viewing it as the highest honor a Soviet child can achieve.

Officer Zaichik is Sasha's father and a highly respected, high-ranking member of the State Security (the secret police). He previously received a medal directly from Stalin. He shares the largest room in the communal apartment with his son and fiercely protects Sasha, encouraging him to conform to state expectations to ensure his survival.

Nina Petrovna is Sasha's teacher, a cold and manipulative woman who rules her classroom with cruelty and fear. She actively bullies students whose parents have fallen out of favor with the state while showering praise on those with well-connected families. She embodies the corruption and paranoia of the Stalinist regime at the local level.

Vasya Stukachov is a resident of the communal apartment where the Zaichiks live. He resides in a tiny, cramped room with his wife, mother, and three children. He bitterly covets the Zaichiks' larger, more luxurious room and seizes opportunities to advance his own living situation within the ruthless Soviet system.

Vovka is a student in Sasha's class who recently transformed from a star pupil and Sasha's best friend into an angry, underperforming bully. He now sits in the back row of the classroom, nicknamed "Kolyma," and frequently targets other vulnerable students. He harbors deep, unexpressed pain regarding his own family circumstances.

Borka is a Jewish student in Sasha's class who endures constant bullying and antisemitism from his peers and teachers. Nicknamed "Four-Eyes" due to his glasses, he is isolated after his parents are taken to Lubyanka prison. Despite the abuse, he remains determined, brave, and singularly focused on finding a way to reunite with his family.

Sergei Ivanych is the principal of the school, a small, sweating man who ruthlessly enforces state doctrine. He operates with a sinister demeanor, heavily influenced by the constant threat of the secret police, and shows no hesitation in sacrificing his students to the authorities to protect himself and maintain order.

Aunt Larisa is Officer Zaichik's sister and Sasha's aunt. She lives with her husband and newborn baby. Navigating the treacherous political climate of Moscow, she lives in constant fear that associating with anyone under government suspicion—even family—will result in her own arrest and endanger her child.

The Comrade Senior Lieutenant is a soft-spoken, well-dressed officer of the State Security. He carries out the orders of the secret police with brisk, chilling efficiency. Despite his polite demeanor, he represents the absolute and terrifying power of Stalin's regime, enforcing compliance through fear and manipulation.

The Stranger In Line is an unnamed woman waiting in the freezing cold outside the State Security headquarters, hoping for news of her incarcerated son. She represents the thousands of ordinary citizens affected by the state's actions. Despite her own desperate circumstances, she embodies compassion and humanity, sharing her meager resources with those who are even more vulnerable.

Marfa Ivanovna is an impoverished neighbor living in the same communal apartment as the Zaichiks. She occupies a tiny cubbyhole next to the shared bathroom. Despite her extreme poverty and lack of status, she retains her humanity and kindness, offering small comforts to others.

Matveich is the school janitor who guards the supply closet and manages the building's physical maintenance. He is deeply paranoid about rules, demanding perfectly stamped paperwork before handing over any school property, reflecting the widespread fear of bureaucratic missteps.

Luzhko is a literature teacher at Sasha's school. He uses classic Russian literature to subtly challenge the students to think independently about the dangers of blindly following authoritarian systems, attempting to impart critical thinking skills in a deeply dangerous environment.