Valera

Indeed, there's an unmistakable "back to the future" quality to this year's election results: Fianna Fáil, the long-governing and almost anti-ideological party founded by Eamon de Valera, Ireland's dominant 20th-century political figure, was virtually wiped out in the wake of the 2008 crash.

“Russia attacked first, not us,” chimes in Valera with his window down.

Misha and his friend Valera pass us in their orange Lada in the village of Stetskivka.

He says he always wanted this additional Ukrainian teaching, but Valera believes he is going to be made to join the Russian army.

“It’s all connected,” argued financial analyst Valera Kondratenko, 33.