Ludvik Svoboda

### Aliases

Svoboda, Pedak, Officer Svoboda, Crackhead (by Illya Kuryakin), Miroslav (in disguise)

### Affiliation

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Militsiya (former), Committee for State Security (KGB)

## Biographical information

### Place of birth

Russia, Supreme Empire (present day Russian SFSR)

## Appearances

### Appears in

Volume 2: Why Cuba?
Volume 3: The Voronezh Regime
Volume 4: Noreaga’s Dungeon
Volume 5: Operation Fallen Eagle

### Debut

Volume 2: Why Cuba?

**Ludvik Svoboda** is a Character in the **Toxic Soviets** Comic Series. He was an Officer of the Militsiya and served as a Bodyguard of the Generalissimus alongside Vasily Alexeyevich before being promoted to the Committee for State Security (KGB) following the End of the Voronezh-Fadedist Era.

## Toxic Soviets Events

### Volume 2: Why Cuba?

Svoboda is first introduced in the 2nd Volume of the Toxic Soviets comics, although his screen time is limited. He appears in the first few panels alongside Heydar Aliyev and Abbie, who are sitting in a bar. Svoboda randomly says "rape" and later own expresses absolute indifference to a man being shot by Hokaj, with his only reply being "molestation".

### Volume 3: The Voronezh Regime

In Volume 3, Svoboda has a new job as a Militsiya Officer alongside Vasily Alexeyevich. Svoboda and Vasily both serve as Bodyguards of Wilhelm who has taken on the position of Acting Premier following Leon’s vacation. Svoboda is seen taking Heydar away alongside Vasily for attacking Wilhelm, only uttering the word "trolling" in a cynical manner.

Later on with Wilhelm returning from his "therapy", he accompanies him alongside Vasily, however he remains silent and stands menacingly with a rifle. On the day of the Coup, Svoboda shows no reaction whatsoever, only uttering the word "raped" as the Army, lead by Faded and Casreor, surrounds Wilhelm and the Kremlin. He later attends the Party following Faded’s victory in his duel against Wilhelm, and remains cynical and unexrpessive as the Kremlin is being destroyed, only saying "comunism ritual" as a comment on the Slavaboo atmosphere surrounding the chaotic Party.

From that point onwards, Svoboda now serves Faded as his Bodyguard alongside Vasily, and can be seen raising his hand to Heydar’s question of who Faded has bribed in the Central Committee, indicating that he was bribed by Faded as well. Svoboda later attends the Crime Scene alongside the rest of the CC upon hearing the News, where he comments by saying "wow, big surprise" to when Faded said that many people in the past threatened to kill him.

In the investigation scene, Svoboda is seen accompanying Heydar, but upon Wilhelm’s arrival as he searches for rope, he picks up the envelope that fell from his pocket. Svoboda recognizes the symbol shown in the envelope and shows it to Heydar, causing him to believe that Wilhelm was the one behind the Crime (even though that accusation was false). Faded thus randomly appeared and immediately ordered the Guards to arrest Wilhelm, as they obey the order. Wilhelm is then taken away by Svoboda and Vasily, and he is taken to a prison cell.

### Volume 4: Noreaga’s Dungeon

Svoboda first appears now as a newly recruited Officer of the KGB under the Leadership of Illya Kuryakin alongside Joseph as a reward for their work on the crime. In his appearance, his training involves a discussion about perms and how to find what one’s perm is, a topic that is ultimately bombarded with questions by Heydar, in contrast to the the KGB having nothing to ask. Upon Leon’s change of plans for "pursuing a diplomatic approach" first before choosing war as an option, both Svoboda and Joseph are tasked with accompanying Heydar and Grill on their diplomatic mission as security. The next day however, Svoboda does not show up and only appears when the helicopter has already left, with no care, anxiety or concern whatsoever.

Svoboda’s screentime remains limited, and he only re-appears in the end when he accompanies Leon on the mission to rescue the crew sent for the mission. There, he finds out that the helicopter has bombs in it, foreshadowing the events of the next volume and Leon’s plans.

### Volume 5: Operation Fallen Eagle

Svoboda appears in Volume 5 as an immediate follow-up to the events of the previous volume. He is seen accompanying Leon and the rescued crew in the helicopter ride, where he doesn’t partake in the discussion regarding the root of the crash and instead comments "heydar in toilet moment" when Heydar describes the explosion. It is implied that off-screen, Leon tells Svoboda and the rest of the agents the exact tasks that they must complete as part of the mission to capture the Queen and take control over Poland.

With their arrival to Poland and them getting spotted by a squad of Polish Guards, the Soviets are threatened to state their business before eventually being freed and invited on to dinner by the Queen herself (much to her brother’s anger). At this moment, Leon nods to Svoboda about the initiation of the plan.

Throughout the dinner, Svoboda and the rest of their agents are assigned to their posts. Their task is to infiltrate the palace through its ranks and communication systems and to place bombs all over the castle as Officers hide in bushes and trees to prepare for a total ambush. Svoboda’s role appears to be centered around infiltration and even some killings and interrogations. Svoboda kills and puts on the clothes of one of the janitor-spies of the palace, Miroslav, in order to pick up the fake soviet earpiece and present it to Franz. Svoboda is successful, and as a result Franz empties out the palace’s security by gathering all janitors, with one suspected mole among them, in one room. Obviously, this would clear the way for the agents to have control over the palace and to progress with the events that would lead to the end goal.

Eventually, while the Poles corner the Soviets and get "the upper hand", Svoboda stands behind Franz while in disguise as Miroslav and points a gun at him, much to his and the rest of the Polish nobility’s shock. It is at that point where Svoboda’s disguise is revealed and the tables fully turn for the following events. Later, the palace is blown to bits as KGB troops ambush the Polish forces and completely clear the way for disturbances. All prisoners, including Franz, are then tied up to be shipped in trucks and transported for the plan to move on to the next stage. However, in an unexpected twist, Svoboda shoots Franz in the back of the head after he allegedly "tries to escape". While Heydar and Grill consider it unethical, Leon ends up pardoning Svoboda, stating that he was acting with good intentions in mind. After Faded unexpectedly rushes off with the Queen and runs away, Svoboda and the Soviets go on their way to hunt him down and complete their plan.

## Personality

Svoboda is cynical and menacing due to his brooding, silent appearance and obedience to the orders of his superiors. He speaks in small sentences, usually in an unfazed, careless expression and often comments sarcastically in a monotonous tone about difficult or stressful situations. He expresses this carelessness in actions as well, considering that Svoboda acts either when he himself wants to or when he’s ordered to. In other situations, he stands and watches events unfold menacingly and in a cynical manner.

## Relationships

### Vasily Alexeyevich

Though the pair rarely interact, the pair are often seen working alongside each other as close colleagues, serving as the bodyguards to Wilhelm and later on Faded as well as performing a joint criminal investigation as officers of Militaysia.

### Wilhelm

Loyal to his job, Svoboda protects Wilhelm as his bodyguard regardless of his dissatisfaction with him personally, escorting Heydar out of the CC meeting when he violently attacks him. Although Ludvik is quick to arrest Wilhelm following a criminal investigation which falsely linked Wilhelm to violations of the law.

### Faded

Although Svoboda's opinion of Faded is not known, we see he is among the many individuals Faded has bribed as indicated by him voting for both the removal of Wilhelm and the appointment of Faded to replace him. As well as this, Svoboda later serves as Faded's bodyguard during the rest of Volume 3.

### Illya Kuryakin

Recruited by him shortly after the events of Volume 3, Svoboda shows discipline whilst silently listening to his new superiors explanations to perms and his new position.

### Joseph

Svoboda and Joseph are recruited into the KGB together but despite working in close proximity, the two are yet to fully interact.

### Leon

Svoboda is given a lot of trust by Leon in the operation within Poland, with Svoboda playing a vital role in leading the infiltration of the Palace. Leon is also the one who gives Svoboda the signal to carry out the key phases of the plan.

## Abilities

Being recruited into the elite security services of the KGB, Svoboda is extremely competent in the missions and operations he has been tasked to carry out. Ludvik Svoboda is an expert strategist as well as being skilled in espionage, hand-to-hand combat and proficient in the wielding of firearms as per his training as a KGB agent.

### Mental/Intelligence

Svoboda is very intelligent, successfully strategizing and carrying out an infiltration of the Warsaw Palace in the events of Operation: Fallen Eagle and capturing the Polish monarchs.

### Espionage

During the events of Operation: Fallen Eagle, Svoboda successfully infiltrates the Polish nobility and is able to remain in the palace undetected whilst he supplies the Soviets with vital information and also simultaneously sabotaging Franz's attempts to uncover the hidden KGB spy's and the Soviet plot. His work is completed when Ludvik successfully turns the tide onto the poles when the Soviets are "surrounded" when he reveals himself as a spy and is able to disarm the Polish Duke.