Soviet Hills and Slavic Criminals in the Original Grand Theft Auto

Soviet Hills, Slavic Criminals and WWII Pistols in the Original Grand Theft Auto

By A. Sylazhov

In the original Grand Theft Auto (1997), known as GTA1, Rockstar Games included subtle yet precise references to Russian and Soviet culture.

Soviet Hill: A Reference to Russian Hill

The naming of Soviet Hill, a district in the game's version of San Andreas, is one of the most glaring references. This location is a direct parody of Russian Hill, a real neighborhood in San Francisco, California. The name change from "Russian" to "Soviet" aligns with Rockstar’s early tradition of satirical and exaggerated world-building.^[1]

Location and In-Game Description

Soviet Hill is located in the northern landmass of San Andreas, just north of Aye Valley. The district is:

Bordered by Richman to the north
Sunrise to the east
Aye Valley to the south
Wood Hill to the west

According to the official GTA website, the district received the name Soviet Hill after the governor sent a crack SWAT team to put down a hippie community living just outside of Sunrise. This fictional backstory is emblematic of Rockstar's satirical world-building, combining counterculture history with authoritarian imagery.^[1]

Connection to Russian Hill, San Francisco

Russian Hill is a picturesque neighborhood in San Francisco known for its steep streets, scenic views, and the iconic Lombard Street, famously dubbed "the crookedest street in the world" due to its tight hairpin turns (Rockstar would later parody this street with the name Windy Windy Windy Windy Street in GTA: San Andreas). The area got its name in the mid-1800s when settlers discovered a small Russian cemetery at the hilltop, believed to belong to Russian fur traders who were in the region before California became part of the United States. Today, Russian Hill blends historic charm with upscale urban living.

San Andreas in GTA1 is based on San Francisco, and Soviet Hill is a clear play on Russian Hill.
Russian Hill itself is historically named after a small Russian cemetery found by early settlers.
The shift from "Russian" to "Soviet" likely serves as a tongue-in-cheek Cold War reference, fitting within late-20th-century Western cultural trends, even though the Soviet Union had already dissolved by the time of the game's release in 1997.

The famous Lombard Street in Russian Hill, a local landmark in San Francisco.

Kivlov: A Slavic Protagonist

Kivlov's portrait in the character selection screen, PC version

Among the selectable protagonists in GTA1, one character named Kivlov stands out as a possible reference to Slavic or Russian heritage. His name, appearance, and color palette are all we know about him. Although not much is known about him and he's not provided a backstory, the following can be surmised from his appearance:

He appears to be of Slavic descent, suggested by his surname.
He wears red clothing, which may be an intentional visual nod to Soviet symbolism.
His facial features and hair also denote a Slavic ethnic origin.
His facial expression suggests sadism or mocking cruelty, smiling coldly and eerily with vacant eyes, traits often associated to Russian criminals in the media.
Although all protagonists in GTA1 share the same story, missions, and relationships regardless of selection, Kivlov’s inclusion adds subtle Slavic cultural variety to the game.
Like the other protagonists, Kivlov's default name can be changed by the player on the character selection screen, a feature also used for activating cheat codes.

Regardless of Kivlov's original backstory, he will partake in exactly the same criminal actions all protagonists do in GTA1.^[4]

Tokarev T-33 Pistol: A Soviet Firearm

Lastly, the usage of a Soviet Tokarev T-33 semiautomatic pistol, as the most basic firearm at the player character's disposal, is yet another important Soviet reference. This being the US, more specifically Liberty City (a fictional New York City), the usage of a Soviet firearm marks a clear distinction between the series' most enduring pistol, the Colt M1911, which is far more normal to find in the US than a T-33. The Tokarev pistol was developed during the late 1920s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet Armed Forces and was based on the earlier pistol designs of John Moses Browning. The pistol saw plenty of action since its introduction, particularly in the Spanish Civil War, the Finnish-Soviet Winter War and WWII.^[5]

A real life T-33 with wooden grips similar to the one depicted in the game (Polish variant).

Conclusion: Baby Steps into Post-Soviet Russian Mythology

Soviet Hill, the character Kivlov and the T-33 pistol in GTA1 are small but notable examples of how Rockstar Games reinterpreted real-world Russian cultural references with satirical or stylistic nods. Soviet Hill serves as an early case of geographical naming influenced by Cold War-era terminology, while Kivlov adds an understated Slavic criminal presence to the roster of diverse protagonists. The T-33 pistol, moreover, serves to illustrate a series favorite, the inclusion of black market Soviet and Russian firearms into the US after the fall of communism. Together, they reflect the game's early use of global archetypes in shaping its gritty, exaggerated urban world, as well as the beginnings of Eastern European criminal elements in Western narratives.

Grand Theft Auto

Country: UK Flag United Kingdom

Initial release: November 28, 1997

Platforms: MS-DOS, Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy Color

Composer: Craig Conner

Genres: Open world, Action-adventure, Racing, Third-person shooter, Nonlinear gameplay

Developers:DMA Design

Publishers:BMG Interactive, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games

About: Grand Theft Auto launched the iconic series with a top-down perspective and a bold, open-ended approach to crime-based gameplay. Set across three fictional cities—Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City—the game places players in the role of a nameless criminal climbing the ranks of the underworld. Through a series of chaotic missions involving theft, assassination, and mayhem, players earn respect and cash while evading the ever-present threat of the law. Known for its edgy tone, radio chatter, and freedom to wreak havoc, GTA1 laid the foundation for the series’ signature blend of satire, violence, and urban chaos.

References

Rockstar Games. (1997). Grand Theft Auto [Video game]. DMA Design. https://www.rockstargames.com/games/classics
Yurchak, A. (2006). Everything was forever, until it was no more: The last Soviet generation. Princeton University Press.
Hart, J. D. (2004). A companion to California (Rev. ed.). University of California Press.
Rockstar Games. (1997). Grand Theft Auto [Video game]. DMA Design. https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Protagonists_in_GTA_(1997_game)
Popenker, Maxim. (n.d.). Modern Firearms. https://modernfirearms.net/en/handguns/handguns-en/russia-semi-automatic-pistols/tokarev-tt-eng/