- "My job is to keep a boy safe. Not babysit a drunkard."
- — Kirill to Iosef[src]
Kirill (Russian: Кирилл) was a Russian mobster and henchmen of Viggo Tarasov, former leader of the Tarasov Mob in New York City. He was also Viggo's head of security tasked with protecting his son, Iosef. Of all of Viggo's men, Kirill was the only one who fought on even terms with John Wick and came the closest to killing him.
Biography[]
Kirill in the Red Circle's security room.
John Wick[]
Alongside Kuzma, Nicholai and many other henchmen, Kirill was responsible to the security of Iosef when he and his friends party in a hot tub in the Red Circle. When he joins him at a swimming pool, Iosef states that despite the imminent threat, he is not afraid of John Wick (who targeted him for killing his dog and stealing his car). Kirill reminded him that he should be and returned to a control room to watch the camera feed. The bodyguard so recognizes John, drowns his weapon, and storms out of the room to protect Iosef. However, John managed to kill a whole division of Kirill's men, including Nicholai and Kuzma but the head of security shot him in the chest but Wick survives thanks to his bulletproof suit. Kirill then manages to disarm John and a fight erupts. Wick may have underestimated Kirill, as he defeated John within moments, beating him before throwing him off a balcony, but in return gets almost shot by John who still had a gun hidden in his belt. Kirill survived the shootout at the club, as does Iosef, because their brawl allowed Iosef to escape unharmed.
Kirill alongside Viggo and other mobsters.
Later, as Viggo discovers his cache of money and paraphernalia materials destroyed by an arson set by John at a church within a safe house which serves as his front upon a confession of an Orthodox priest, Kirill accompanies him in front of the priest alongside Pavel and several other thugs. John ambushes them but Kirill drives a car and knocks the hitman out cold. The security detail is later ordered to protect Viggo alongside Pavel when the crime lord confronts a captive John and mocks his former assassin for leaving his old life behind. He and Pavel finally attempt to torture and kill John by trying to suffocate the protagonist with a plastic bag. However, Pavel was shot by John's ally Marcus, who observed the situation with a sniper rifle. John managed to break free and fought against Kirill, and after a long violent fight, John strangled Kirill to death with his handcuffs still on before escape.
Abilities[]
- Peak Human Condition: Being an experienced bodyguard, Kirill is shown to have an excellent level of physical condition: he is very strong and agile, which is shown in their first fight when he outmaneuvered and overpowered John.
- Expert Martial Artist: Kirill was highly skilled in Taekwondo and Karate.[1] He was able to compete with John Wick in a fight, although the latter had been retired for five years.
- Skilled Marksman: Kirill knew how to use firearms such as pistol.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- Salient Arms International Glock 17: Kirill used his pistol against John Wick at the Red Circle club and outside the church.
Trivia[]
- Kirill was portrayed by Swiss actor and martial artist Daniel Bernhardt, who also acted as a stunt in the following films, John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
- Kirill is a boy's name of Slavic and Greek origin meaning "lord" and ''master''.
- He has a A.U.E. tattoo on his neck.