Born on June 25, 1940, in Kyiv. His first evacuation took place from 1941 to 1944; an his second took three years. Between them, he lived, loved, became disillusioned, nearly cursed, forgave, admired, published books, rejoiced in recognition, summed up sorrow and joy, took part in civic activism, lived to see a great-granddaughter and a new war, grew up—and, it seems, is still growing up…
He writes various things for himself, so it turns out as it does: sometimes for children, and sometimes—no one knows for whom.