An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (448)

Ihor reflects on his time serving as an officer in the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Interior troops. After volunteering for military service, he found himself travelling from Lviv to Lithuania to begin officer training in communications and field operations.

The training program brought together recruits from across the Soviet Union and beyond communications; these troops had a wide range of responsibilities—from guarding strategic facilities to responding to hostage crises and public disturbances.

This is a rare opportunity to hear the everyday realities of military service inside the Soviet security structure.

Listen to Ihor's first episode here coldwarconversations.com/episode447

Episode extras here coldwarconversations.com/episode448

Linked episodes

• Moscow Coup - Brett, a US student's account (coldwarconversations.com/episode214)

• Moscow Coup - Kieran, a UK student's account (coldwarconversations.com/episode81)

• Moscow Coup - How the BBC announced the coup (coldwarconversations.com/episode73)

• Training to be a US Army Tank Commander (coldwarconversations.com/episode38)

• Defending the Fulda Gap (coldwarconversations.com/episode41)

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