The book describes a different era, a different political system, and a different war. Yet I could not escape a sense of déjà vu and the urge to draw parallels.

An attack on the legitimate government of another country (which at that time was successful, unlike the attempted seizure of Kyiv in February 2022), the deployment of troops onto the territory of a sovereign state, and the authorities’ efforts to avoid calling it a war (then it was described as the introduction of a “limited contingent” and the resolution of an “international duty”).

The central idea of Alexievich’s book, however, was to portray the tragedy of the Soviet (not Afghan) people. “Poor boys” were sent to a foreign land and forced to fight — to kill the residents of another sovereign state. A chill ran down my spine as I read the recollections of mothers who had lost their sons in that war.

Here are some of the phrases they used to describe their fallen children:

“My son was not guilty of anything.”

“The Motherland ordered him, and he went.”

“My son is a hero.”

“The state must honor my son.”

“My son received the Order of Hero of the Soviet Union.”

“I go to schools and speak about my son’s heroism.”

And here are the words of mothers whose sons were disabled in that war:

“My son fulfilled his duty to the Motherland, and the Motherland must provide him with everything necessary.”

“The state owes me an apartment (a car, financial compensation, etc.).”