Volodya is the first person to welcome me on the airport when I arrived to Ukraine in 2008. He is very friendly but not talkative. When Volodya is nervous or something is not to his liking - he starts humming some melody.
He is married. His wife is a teacher at the elementary school. They have two kids - a daughter who is at the University and a 10 year old son. His family has a lovely Yorkshire terrier.
About two years ago - while my friends were visiting me in Kiev - I had a problem with a car. It was a cold Saturday evening in the late December and my car would not start. Volodya came to help me. I later found out the same evening he celebrated his birthday. I will never forget to congratulate him for his birthday.
Upon my arrival to Kiev during our brief conversations we came to the subject of travelling. I asked Volodya if he had travelled abroad. His answer was yes. Volodya never volunteers information but I continued to be curious. My next question was where he was abroad. “Afghanistan, Greece and Turkey” – was Volodya’s response. I could not stop myself asking questions. I found out Volodya was in Afghanistan at the end of the soviet war - from 1987 to 1988. He was deployed with some logistic unit as a driver. No wonder he is an excellent driver. On Thursday driving from Kiev to Sumy Volodya was averaging about 130 km/h. My top speed on the same road would be 70 km/h - if I would be very brave. About 50 km before Sumy - at the place called Sula - the road police stopped us. Volodya mumbled something about bed luck. Took his papers. Stepped out of the car. Following a short conversation with the policeman, Volodya headed with the police guy towards a police car. They set in the car.
When exceeding the speed limit a fee depends how fast the car drove. The fee range is usually between UAH 200-400. We were way over the speed limit and my estimate was Volodya would have to pay about UAH 400. Which for Ukraine circumstance is a significant amount. The office does not cover police “fees” for drivers.
From my back seat I took photos of a second policeman standing and a police car where Volodya was negotiating a fee. After 5 min Volodya was still in the car. I got concerned. But I knew stepping out of the car would not help. After about 10 min Volodya finally gets out of the police car. The policeman also gets out. They walk towards our car. They are both engaged in a conversation. They approach the car. Volodya opens the door. Before getting in the car he shakes hands with the policeman. The policeman says something which translates like “good luck”. Volodya thanks him. Watching all of this from the car I get confused.
When Volodya finally starts the car and move from the policeman I impatiently ask him: "How much have you paid? " "UAH 50". "50"? - I am in disbelief. "How come?" - "Well I showed the policeman my Afghan vet card. We had a chat about Afghanistan. He let me go with 50 UAH."
"Seems you have an Afghan vet discount card" I concluded. Volodya smiled and continued to average 130 km/h.
I found interesting how for usually ruthless - and only in money interested road policeman - an Afghan deployment still means something. It's more than 20 years since the soviets pulled out but (at least) this policman thinks that an Afghan soviet vet has to be charged only a symbolic fee of UAH 50.
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