The Frog

Lore & Background

Leningrad is an Argentine horned frog who lives in the toilet of Putin and Kirenenko's cell. His activities are limited to croaking, eating the chick Komanetsyn, and then defecating him back out again. He plays an important role in the musical episodes, where his croaks add to the rhythm and cause Putin to gasp rhythmically. His mother is Sharapova, and her large husband Mikhail lives with her in a far forest. Season six/zero reveals that Leningrad hatched and matured to a fully adult frog within the prison's plumbing system.

In Their Own Story

The toilet in cell 541 was home to more than just plumbing. Leningrad, an Argentine horned frog, sat motionless in the bowl, his eyes barely breaking the water's surface. A tiny chick, Komanetsyn, wandered too close. In a flash, Leningrad's tongue shot out, and the chick vanished. Moments later, with a rhythmic croak, Komanetsyn was returned, none the worse for wear. This cycle of consumption and return became a percussive beat, a cornerstone of the cell's strange musical life.

Reader's Guide

Leningrad is a minor but recurring character in the Usavich series. He resides in the toilet of the main cell and has a simple, repetitive routine: croaking, eating Komanetsyn, and defecating him back out. This cycle contributes to the musical episodes, where his croaks and Putin's resulting gasps form part of the rhythm. Leningrad's mother is Sharapova, and his father is Mikhail, a much larger frog who lives with her in a distant forest. Season six/zero establishes that Leningrad hatched and grew to adulthood entirely within the prison's plumbing system.

Did You Know?

• Leningrad is an Argentine horned frog, not a generic frog.
• He lives in the toilet of Putin and Kirenenko's cell.
• His primary activities are croaking, eating Komanetsyn, and defecating him back out.
• His mother is named Sharapova and his father is Mikhail.
• Season six/zero reveals he hatched and matured to adulthood in the prison's plumbing system.