PLAYING WAR

military tank

In a “world of make believe”, rich men in Ukraine have discovered a new hobby.  While some continue to buy fast cars, others are buying used military tanks.  For the past three years, this “tank craze” has taken off and become a popular entertainment for the wealthy elite.  They believe that “playing war” is better than “real war” and is just for fun.  No one is hurt, and it gives them an adrenaline rush that makes them feel strong and invulnerable. 

Two Ukrainian brothers, Ruslan and Oleg Bojko, have purchased close to $500,000 worth of military equipment in the past two years. They are especially proud of a wheeled vehicle they own that the Soviets built AFTER the war to transport nuclear weapons.  It’s only one of eight in the world and considered “secret technology” in every country but Ukraine.   Also, Ruslan believes that driving a tank is the embodiment of masculinity:  “Every true man has it in his blood.  We love weapons, shooting and fighting.”  His brother Oleg agrees, even though he was wounded twice fighting in the Soviet War in Afghanistan and still has chronic pain from hand grenade fragments that have been in his body for more than 30 years. Both admit that driving a tank is a status symbol, and they like the attention and respect they get from friends and neighbors.  They point out that it’s no different from those people who buy a flashy, expensive car.    

Many of these old military tanks cost less than $10,000 and have been repaired, repainted and outfitted with leather seats.  Although there is no government control board that knows exactly how many of them have been purchased by the public (or exactly how they have been obtained), the wheeled tanks are seen out on country roads and even on expressways … and considered “legal” if the owner has a special driver’s license.  Even though he has limited visibility, Ruslan feels safe and protected inside his tank:  “The other guy needs to get out of MY way.”

Those opposed to this new tank cult point out that they burn over 40 gallons of fuel per hour and that what the Bojkos spend on munitions alone would pay a doctor’s salary for a month.  In a country where 80% of the population lives below the poverty level, the United Nations points out that the gap between the rich and poor is greater in Ukraine than almost every other country in Europe.  But when questioned about this disparity, Ruslan says he doesn’t believe there are really people who can’t afford bread.  If only they worked like he did, they would also have money.

One might expect that some of the neighbors would object to the loud engine noise and shooting sounds from the Bojko property.  But surprisingly, the three that were interviewed did not mind at all and said the military tanks were a “good thing” for the neighborhood.  One even laughed and commented:  “All the foreigners should realize that we drive tanks here, and we shoot.”

Copyright © 2013 (Michelle Parsons, Getting Back on Your Path). All Rights Reserved.

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