Book: Conversations with Vladimir Putin

- Calm. Too much even. Later, when I studied at the intelligence school, I was recorded as a negative trait in one of my characteristics: “A reduced sense of danger.”

Before the war, my parents had half a house in Peterhof. They were very proud of the standard of living that they then achieved. But what level was that? But it seemed to them that this was almost the ultimate dream. They had a terrible front door. The apartment is communal. Without any amenities. No hot water, no bath. The toilet is terrible, somehow crashed right into the landing. Cold, creepy. Staircase with metal railings. It was dangerous to walk on it, all in crevices. There, on this staircase, I understood once and for all what the phrase “cornering” means. There were rats in the hallway. And my friends and I drove them with sticks all the time. Once I saw a huge rat and started chasing until I cornered it. She had nowhere to run. Then she turned around and rushed at me. It was unexpected and very scary. Now the rat was chasing me. She jumped over the steps, jumped down the flights. True, I was faster anyway and slammed the door in her face.

I think there are always a lot of mistakes in war. It's unavoidable. But if you fight and think that everyone around you is wrong, you will never win. We need to be pragmatic about this. And you have to think about winning.