In the winter of 1946 a six-year-old boy saw a train on the railway station in Leningrad with its doors open, fully loaded with weaponry and clothes. He sneaked in and fell asleep – and woke up when the train was already on its way to Porkkala.

The next nine years Vladimir Novikov spent in the naval base, sleeping in bunkers and outhouses. Sometimes he spent the night in Finnish houses, it seemed like the owners just were absent for a little while.

There were many efforts to send him back but he managed to disappear until the search was over.

Vladimir ate in soldier’s canteens, he carried firewood and water, he picked berries and mushrooms, cones and resin. The soldiers gave him money to buy them beer. The soldiers were tired of war and needed a boost, which they got from mixing the beer with vodka.

Vladimir stayed in Porkkala until the autumn of 1955. Before he left he was ordered to keep silent about the Porkkala base.

Vladimir later on moved to the Ukraine.