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{{Games|RA}}
 
{{Games|RA}}
 
{{CharBox
 
{{CharBox
|name = Classified
+
|name = Radik Gradenko
|image = No_image_blank.jpg
+
|image = gradenko.jpg
 
|imgdesc =
 
|imgdesc =
 
|birth =
 
|birth =
 
|death =
 
|death =
|status =
+
|status = Deceased (''Red Alert'' Soviet campaign)
|gender =
+
|gender = Male
 
|family =
 
|family =
 
|faction = {{Flag|USSR|RA1}} [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]]
 
|faction = {{Flag|USSR|RA1}} [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]]
|job =
+
|job = Director of the Russian Secret Police
* Field commander
+
|rank = Field Marshall
 
|games = ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert|Red Alert]]''
* Premier of the USSR
 
  +
|actor = [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0855932/ Alan Terry]
|rank =
 
* Lieutenant
 
* Captain
 
* General
 
|games =
 
* ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert|Red Alert]]''
 
* ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Remastered|Red Alert - Remastered]]''
 
|actor =
 
 
}}
 
}}
The '''Soviet commander''' is the player character in the [[Soviet]] campaign of ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert|Red Alert]]''.
+
'''Radik Gradenko'''<ref>[[Red Alert 1 cutscene script]], p. 8</ref> (''Russian'': '''Радик Граденко''') is a Soviet military commander appearing in [[Command & Conquer: Red Alert|''Red Alert 1'']].
   
==Biography==
+
==Background==
  +
As the Director of the Russian Secret Police, Gradenko is an aide to [[Joseph Stalin]] and the man responsible for much of the USSR's internal security schemes.
This Soviet Commander was one of the [[USSR]]'s most skilled and loyal strategists during the [[Second World War]]. Much of his past remains unknown.
 
   
  +
Although Gradenko is an outstanding strategist and security expert, being responsible for many Soviet victories in Eastern Asia, he made a number of mistakes at the beginning of the European war which included the loss much of the [[USSR|USSR's]] stockpiles of [[Sarin|nerve gas]], a critical element in Stalin's original plans. Stalin also blamed Gradenko for failures in pacifying civilian resistance, and for [[Albert Einstein|Albert Einstein's]] escape.
===Second World War===
 
{{NonCanonCamp|Soviet|RA1}}
 
The commander was involved in missions directly ordered by [[Joseph Stalin]] himself. His first assignment as Lieutenant was a test to see if he was obedient and ruthless enough to be trusted - the commander was ordered to violently pacify the town of [[Toruń]].<ref name="RA1_Soviet1">Westwood Studios, ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert]]''. Soviet mission 1: "[[Lesson in Blood]]".</ref> He was then given several more important missions and was promoted to Captain.<ref name="RA1_Soviet5">Westwood Studios, ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert]]''. Soviet mission 5: "[[Distant Thunder]]".</ref> Gaining even more victories and allowing the Red Army to take over most of Europe eventually led to his promotion to General.<ref name="RA1_Soviet12">Westwood Studios, ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert]]''. Soviet mission 12: "[[Capture the Tech Centers]]".</ref>
 
   
  +
==Storyline development==
Stalin's aide [[Nadia]] was one of the Commander's greatest proponents during the war, while [[Gradenko|Field Marshal Gradenko]] seemed cynical of the Commander's abilities. Eventually, Gradenko's mistakes led to his ''removal'', and the promotion of [[Georgi Kukov]], who was generally more supportive of the commander. However, after a failed bid to capture an Allied [[Chronosphere]], Kukov also turned on the Commander, attempting to blame him for the failure. Once again, Nadia aided the Commander, proving that Kukov had neglected to inform the Commander of certain vital intelligence. Stalin proceeded to snap Kukov's neck.<ref name="RA1_Soviet14">Westwood Studios, ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert]]''. Soviet mission 14: "[[Soviet Supremacy]]".</ref>
 
  +
Gradenko plays a major role in the first half of the Soviet campaign. He is absent from the Allied one. He gives the player his first briefing - pacifying Polish resistance fighters outside [[Toruń]]. Later in the campaign, Gradenko's forces on Elba Island are the first Soviet troops to witness the [[Chronosphere|Chronosphere's]] usage. Gradenko relays this to Stalin, who becomes obsessed with capturing a prototype Chronosphere.
   
  +
Eventually, [[Nadia]], who is Gradenko's main opponent at the head of the Communist party, convinces Stalin of Gradenko's incompetence. Stalin is, however, reluctant to have him killed due to his belief in Gradenko's commitment to the Soviet cause, even after Gradenko's incompetence endangers the secrecy of the [[Iron Curtain]] project when he abandons a truck containing elements vital to the project, forcing a commander to hunt down and destroy it before the Allies can study its contents. Gradenko goes as far to prove his loyalty as to sign the death warrants of Soviet generals who [[Stalin]] claims were plotting to assassinate him.
After total Soviet victory was achieved, the commander met Stalin at the captured Buckingham Palace. Sipping from his tea, the dictator promised his General that he would be "very well taken care of," perhaps implying that he would kill him. Just then it became clear that he had been poisoned by Nadia, who revealed herself to be a member of a shadowy organization that controlled the Soviet Union (and thus manipulated the whole war) calling itself the [[Brotherhood of Nod]], which would be "tired" of the Soviet Union sometime in the 1990's. Nadia appointed the Soviet Commander to succeed Stalin as Premier but, Stalin's advisor shot Nadia in the back, apparently no longer needing her. The mysterious advisor, none other than [[Kane]] himself, looked the commander straight in the eye and proclaimed that he was the future, possibly foreshadowing the coming of the [[Tiberium]] age.<ref name="RA1_Soviet14" />
 
   
  +
Eventually, he is executed as a traitor by [[Nadia]], who poisons his tea. He is replaced in his role by [[Georgi Kukov]], who was later also executed.
From this point on, the commander's fate remains unknown. Most likely he began his rule of the now continent-wide Soviet Union. Throughout all decisions and struggles, however, the commander would always remain Kane's loyal servant, working to make the Brotherhood's mysterious plans for humanity a reality...
 
   
  +
==Trivia==
{{Quote|I am the future...|[[Kane]]}}
 
  +
* While his surname is obviously Ukrainian (or also possible Belarusian), name "Radik" (which is diminutive form of name "Radiy" turned to be a separate name) more popular in Caucasus and Turkic-speaking parts of Russia. The name "Radiy" is of Greek origin, but in USSR was reconnected in typical Soviet manner with radium, a highly radioactive element; therefore, Gradenko's first name may be a pun on the Soviet Nuclear Program.
   
==See also==
+
==Gallery==
  +
<gallery>
* [[Field Commander A9]]
 
  +
RA1_Soviet_Character_1.jpg|In [[Lesson in Blood]] briefing
* [[Allied Commander (Retaliation)]]
 
  +
RA1_Soviet_Character_2.jpg|In [[Behind the Lines]] briefing
* [[S7|Field Commander S7]]
 
  +
RA1_Soviet_Character_4.jpg|In [[Liability Elimination]] briefing
  +
RA1_Soviet_Character_3.jpg|In [[Elba Island]] briefing
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{Red Alert 1 Characters}}
 
{{Red Alert 1 Characters}}
 
{{Soviet Characters}}
 
{{Soviet Characters}}
{{Player}}
 

Revision as of 18:35, 30 October 2021

Radik Gradenko[1] (Russian: Радик Граденко) is a Soviet military commander appearing in Red Alert 1.

Background

As the Director of the Russian Secret Police, Gradenko is an aide to Joseph Stalin and the man responsible for much of the USSR's internal security schemes.

Although Gradenko is an outstanding strategist and security expert, being responsible for many Soviet victories in Eastern Asia, he made a number of mistakes at the beginning of the European war which included the loss much of the USSR's stockpiles of nerve gas, a critical element in Stalin's original plans. Stalin also blamed Gradenko for failures in pacifying civilian resistance, and for Albert Einstein's escape.

Storyline development

Gradenko plays a major role in the first half of the Soviet campaign. He is absent from the Allied one. He gives the player his first briefing - pacifying Polish resistance fighters outside Toruń. Later in the campaign, Gradenko's forces on Elba Island are the first Soviet troops to witness the Chronosphere's usage. Gradenko relays this to Stalin, who becomes obsessed with capturing a prototype Chronosphere.

Eventually, Nadia, who is Gradenko's main opponent at the head of the Communist party, convinces Stalin of Gradenko's incompetence. Stalin is, however, reluctant to have him killed due to his belief in Gradenko's commitment to the Soviet cause, even after Gradenko's incompetence endangers the secrecy of the Iron Curtain project when he abandons a truck containing elements vital to the project, forcing a commander to hunt down and destroy it before the Allies can study its contents. Gradenko goes as far to prove his loyalty as to sign the death warrants of Soviet generals who Stalin claims were plotting to assassinate him.

Eventually, he is executed as a traitor by Nadia, who poisons his tea. He is replaced in his role by Georgi Kukov, who was later also executed.

Trivia

  • While his surname is obviously Ukrainian (or also possible Belarusian), name "Radik" (which is diminutive form of name "Radiy" turned to be a separate name) more popular in Caucasus and Turkic-speaking parts of Russia. The name "Radiy" is of Greek origin, but in USSR was reconnected in typical Soviet manner with radium, a highly radioactive element; therefore, Gradenko's first name may be a pun on the Soviet Nuclear Program.

Gallery

References

Red Alert Characters
RedAlert3Soviet1 avatar Prominent Members of the USSR RedAlert3Soviet1 avatar