Cold War Conversations

Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447)

Cold War Conversations

Show Notes

Born in Lviv in Ukraine, in 1958, Ihor grew up in a city where borders shifted, but memories endured. In this episode, he recalls a childhood shaped by silence, censorship, and family stories that could only be told in private.

While official history came from Moscow, a very different past survived in the countryside—passed down by grandparents who had lived through empire, war, and occupation.

This is a unique personal account of what it meant to grow up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1950s and 60s.

Episode extras here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode447⁠⁠

Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/coldwardeal⁠⁠⁠ or use code COLDWARDEAL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,

You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off donations via the same link.

Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/store/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter/X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from Cold War Conversations

Oct 16, 2026

What did Jacqueline Kennedy privately believe happened in Dallas on 22 November 1963?

Oct 9, 2026

What happens when a Cuban teenager who has lost his homeland finds himself sitting across the lunch table from Fidel Castro?

Oct 2, 2026

At twelve years old, Bing became a Red Guard—and for a few intoxicating months, he felt invincible.

Sep 25, 2026

One morning in August 1980, the noise of 10,000 shipyard workers suddenly stopped. Something extraordinary was happening.

Sep 18, 2026

Bogdan was born just a month before the Berlin Wall went up—and left communist Poland a month before it came down. In between lay a childhood shaped by shortages, censorship, compulsory conformity and a growing determination to escape.

See all episodes →