An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs

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Ihor describes his time serving as a Ukrainian officer in the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Interior troops. After volunteering to serve in the military, he quickly found himself travelling from Lviv to Lithuania to begin officer training in communications and field operations.

Listen to Ihor’s first episode here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode447/

The training program brought together recruits from across the Soviet Union and focused heavily on radio technology, antennas, and encrypted communications. Igor describes how these systems allowed Interior Ministry units to coordinate with headquarters in Moscow and maintain contact with forces across the Baltic region.

Beyond communications, these troops had a wide range of responsibilities—from guarding strategic facilities to responding to hostage crises and public disturbances.

It’s a rare chance to hear a first-hand account of the everyday realities of military service inside the Soviet security structure.

Ihor’s military training took place in Lithuania, where he learned the ins and outs of radio communications, a crucial skill during the Cold War era. He shares insights into the privileges that came with being an officer, including significantly higher pay and access to better quality goods, which were hard to come by in the Soviet Union. His experiences in Latvia, where he was stationed, reveal the complexities of life as a soldier in a country that was grappling with its identity and the beginnings of independence movements.

One of the most striking aspects of Ihor’s story is his perspective on the Chernobyl disaster. He recounts the initial chaos and confusion surrounding the event and how it was downplayed by officials in the days following the explosion. This moment in history not only impacted the region but also shaped the lives of those who lived through it, including Ihor and his fellow soldiers.

As the episode progresses, Ihor reflects on the political changes that swept through the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. He provides a firsthand account of the coup attempt in 1991 and the subsequent fall of communism, a time of great uncertainty but also hope for many. His narrative underscores the challenges faced by individuals during this tumultuous period, including the economic struggles that followed the collapse of the Soviet regime.

Ihor’s journey ultimately leads him to the United States, where he has to start anew. He shares the challenges of adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and building a career in engineering after leaving the military.

Ihor's-parents

Picking-up-apples-at-my-grandparents-orchard

First-day-at-school

On-my-way-to-Zaporizzhya-for-summer-internship-.-Polytechnic-University-1977

Polytechnic-uni

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Ihor (left) at Military department of Polytechnic University

Ihor in Riga , at his base. Regiment 7458.

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