In 1942 he was evacuated, together with his mother and two small sisters, during the blockade of Leningrad. However his father, Ivan Alexandrovich, did not leave Leningrad and as a result died of starvation.
Sa 1942 siya ay evacuated, kasama ang kanyang ina at dalawang maliit na madre, sa panahon ng bumangkulong ng Leningrad. Subalit ang kanyang ama, Ivan Alexandrovich, hindi umalis Leningrad at bilang isang resulta namatay ng gutom.