Evadiy Rubalskiy with his friend Yakov Voloshyn

This is me, Evadiy Rubalskiy (at right) at my friend Yakov Voloshyn, veteran of the war, birthday at his home. This photo was taken in Kiev in 2004. I spend a lot of time with Yakov Voloshyn, who lives in the next-door apartment. We met at the Kiev Jewish Veterans Organization in the Jewish Cultural Center.

In 1946 I went to work as a construction plumber in a construction trust. I made a big contribution into installation of gas supply lines in Kiev. There was my portrait on the board of honor of our trust. I was the best specialist. In 1978 I reached my pension age. Men in the USSR retired at the age of 60. I worked on engineer positions, was a foreman and then a site superintendent. I was valued at work and I stayed until 1986, when I finally retired.

I got married in 1947. In 1948 our daughter Ludmila was born. Our second daughter Inna was born in 1953. We had lots of arguments with my wife, till we divorced after living together 21 years. Since then I’ve lived alone. My daughters and I keep in touch.

My daughters moved to Israel in 1980s. I visited Israel in 1996. Israel is a beautiful country and their standard of living are much higher than here, but it's still not for me. You cannot talk to anyone. In the morning everybody goes to work. In the evening they come home, we have dinner, talk for about an hour and then it's again time for them to go to bed since they have to go to work in the morning. Everybody works or studies and they have no time. Besides, the climate in Israel is not good for me.

When Ukrainian declared its independence, many Jewish organizations were established here. Hesed is very important for us. It provides food products and medications to us. I live alone and have meals in the Hesed canteen, though I can also cook for myself. They do not provide food packages to me. I receive a sufficient pension, they say, but if you distract allowances for my awards, there will be about $50 of pension like everybody else's and it's impossible to live on this pension.

I chaired the council of veterans of the 6th Guard in Kiev for 27 years. For few years I've been a member of the council of veterans in the Jewish cultural society of Ukraine. I attend their meetings and meet with friends. These meetings of Jewish veterans are always interesting. Occasionally I make reports and tell them about what I had lived through. I read many military memoirs, analyze and think about things. I receive Jewish newspapers and magazines and read them with interest. I've remained far from religion, but I attend events in the Hesed, when they invite me.