Nikolai Zinoviev

Nicholai Ginovaef (based on Russian Николай Джиноваев) was a ruthless U.B.C.S. operative and Monitor secret agent (taking part in Operation Watchdog) in the Umbrella Corporation

Raccoon City Outbreak
Nicholai served as a Commando Team Leader, with the rank of Sergeant, when the U.B.C.S. was sent into Raccoon City by Umbrella in an effort to contain the T-Virus outbreak.

Secretly, however, Nicholai was a member of "Operation: Watchdog"; a covert mission to gather combat data on Zombies and escaped B.O.W.s and other dangers in the infested city. With each collection of information, the agent in question would receive a large monetary reward.

The Platoon he was assigned to suffered heavy casualties, with only he, corporal Carlos Oliveira and Lieutenant Mikhail Victor surviving. Upon the inclusion of former S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valentine into the group, they prepared for evacuation to the Saint Michael Clock Tower. Before the tram could be started however, Nicholai was attacked by Zombies.

Two days later, on the early hours of October 1st, he was in the Raccoon General Hospital where he as seen by Carlos. He managed to escape before Carlos could attack him, leaving Carlos to run away from C4 charges which later blew up the building.

Nicholai used his position to assume command of a USS team tasked with "Operation: Emperor's Mushroom"; to retrieve a sample of blood from a Tyrant named Thanatos. Thanatos proved to be too much for the team to handle, so Nicholai was forced to enact the contingency plan; destroying Raccoon University. This failed, resulting in Thanatos mutating into Thanatos R. However, he had escaped long before the buildings, and thus the Tyrants destruction.

He went to the Raccoon Park where he met Jill again, revealing his real plans, before escaping to the "Dead Factory" upon the arrival of a giant worm.

Jill met him for a final time inside the factory - check "fate" for full details.

Fate
The player's choice affects Nicholai's fate. If Jill jumped off the bridge, Nicholai has two other fates;
 * If Jill jumps, Nicholai takes the last helicopter, and Jill has the choice to either blow up his helicopter and kill him, or try reason with him, which allows him to escape.
 * If Jill didn't jump off the bridge,then Nicholai is killed by the Nemesis.

In Resident Evil: Survivor, a report can be found dated October 6, 1998 which is signed by Nicholai. However, this is only in the English version of the game. In the original Japanese version of the game, the report is signed by the "Umbrella BOW R&D Team", not Nicholai.

Appearance in Film
Nicholai appeared in the second film. While Nicholai was also a member of the U.B.C.S., his character in the film is radically different than that in the game; not only is he not evil, but, while cocky and arrogant, he has a deep sense of honour and goodness (and is a Catholic) and is the second-in-command and best friend of Carlos. During the outbreak, which led to the deaths of the entire team save Carlos, Nicholai is killed saving the lives of Jill and Angela Ashford, when he is overrun and mauled to death by Cereri' in Raccoon City Junior High School. He is played in the film by Zack Ward.