On top of naturally caused misery there was also political instability. I mean there's a reason there were two Russian Revolutions, and my great-grandfather fought in both of them. For the Tsar. A choice that might seem strange given the political weirdness going on in the Ukraine now. But back then it was part of the Russian Empire, and Chibalo was a survivor before he was 30 he and his wife had had eight kids, two of whom died during the hunger times. So it was the smart move for a smart guy. The Tsar promised stability or at least a paycheck, so he served in the army for 15 years.