Cilka is an 18-year-old survivor of Auschwitz recently sentenced to hard labor in Siberia. Her traumatic past has made her exceptionally resilient, highly observant, and fluent in multiple languages. She is assigned to Hut 29 and catches the eye of the hospital staff, placing her in a unique position to help fellow prisoners. Despite her youth, she carries immense guilt over the compromises she made to survive the Holocaust.

Josie is a 16-year-old girl from Kraków, Poland, who befriends Cilka on the brutal train ride to Vorkuta. Though initially optimistic and kind-hearted, her youth and inexperience leave her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the forced-labor camp. She relies heavily on Cilka's guidance to survive the social hierarchy and physical dangers of Hut 29.

Yelena is a tall, striking, and compassionate doctor working in the Vorkuta camp hospital. Recognizing Cilka's intelligence, she recruits her to work in the medical facility and serves as an important mentor. She consistently strives to help patients while working within the strict rules of the gulag administration.

Alexandr is a tall, elegant fellow prisoner from Czechoslovakia who works as a messenger in Vorkuta. He is intelligent and uses his time in the camp to write poetry in his head as a coping mechanism against torture. He stands out to Cilka as a rare gentleman among the hardened men of the gulag, sparking unexpected hope.

Boris is a Russian camp trusty in his late twenties who holds a position of power within Vorkuta. He selects Cilka as his camp wife, offering her protection from other men in exchange for forced sexual submission. His complex dynamic with Cilka represents the ongoing lack of bodily autonomy she endures in the camp system.

Vadim is a camp trusty who wields power over the women of Hut 29. He selects Josie as his bedmate, subjecting her to the brutal realities of the gulag's internal hierarchy and demonstrating the constant danger young women face in the camp.

Elena is a prisoner living in Hut 29. Initially presenting as a tough bully who intimidates the other women, her gruff exterior masks a deep well of fear regarding her incarceration. She gradually adapts to the hut's social dynamics.

Hannah is a bitter and manipulative prisoner in Hut 29 who uses extortion to secure medications and favors. As a former member of the Polish Home Army, she harbors strong prejudices and frequently targets Cilka over rumors about her survival tactics during the Holocaust.

Olga is an eternally optimistic prisoner in Hut 29 who finds hope by focusing on happy memories of her family. She uses her sewing skills to decorate the dreary barracks and encourages the other women to maintain their dignity despite their surroundings.

Lale is the tattooist of Auschwitz, whom Cilka befriended during her previous incarceration. His presence in Cilka's flashbacks highlights the deep connections formed under horrific circumstances, as she once risked her life to transfer him to a safer block.

Gita is a young woman Cilka met and befriended in Auschwitz. She represents a vital connection to Cilka's past and the fierce bonds of sisterhood forged during the Holocaust.

Schwarzhuber is the Nazi commandant of Auschwitz who made Cilka the leader of the death block. He represents the severe trauma of Cilka's past, having forced her into a position of both relative privilege and profound abuse in exchange for her life.

Petre is a doctor who trained with Yelena in Georgia and now works in the maternity ward at Vorkuta. He is known for his handsome appearance and his dedication to providing proper medical care to the camp's pregnant prisoners and infants.

Magda is Cilka's older sister who entered the concentration camp alongside her. She serves as an important figure in Cilka's memories of family and survival before the gulag, representing the loved ones Cilka tries desperately to protect.

Miklaus is Cilka's father, remembered as an honorable and loving man. He enters Auschwitz with his daughters, and his separation from the family weighs heavily on Cilka's conscience as she endures her prolonged incarceration.

Fany is Cilka's caring mother, who was separated from the family during the Holocaust. Her memory serves as a painful reminder of everything Cilka has lost and the impossible choices forced upon prisoners.

Antonina is the brigadier in charge of Hut 29. She enforces strict rules of order and cleanliness among the female prisoners, threatening solitary confinement for disobedience while managing the daily survival of her block.

Natalya is a young Russian prisoner in Hut 29 who previously lived in Poland. She is optimistic and eager to help her fellow inmates settle into their new reality, forming an early bond with the new arrivals.

Maria is the wife of the Vorkuta commandant. She is fiercely protective of her daughter and holds the power to offer immense favors to the prisoners who serve her family well, taking particular note of Cilka's gentle bedside manner.

Katya is the four-year-old daughter of the camp commandant. Her occasional need for medical attention brings her into contact with the hospital staff, bridging the gap between the prisoners and the administration.

Kirill is an ambulance driver at the Vorkuta hospital. He is initially critical of the nurses assigned to work with him but operates closely alongside medical staff during camp emergencies and mine rescues.

Pavel is an ambulance worker at Vorkuta who assists with triage and rescues during frequent mine accidents. He is brave in the face of dangerous underground rescues and quickly comes to respect Cilka's medical skills.