Ka kammala jumlar da ke gaba: Valentina ta girma a Novocherkassk a yankin Rostov kuma a matsayin yarinya ta shaida wani ɓangare na abubuwan da suka faru a 1962 a birnin (duba
Kisan gilla na Novocherkassk). Daga baya ta ji cewa mahaifiyarta, wadda take 'yar shekara 23 a lokacin, ta ceci ran wani ɗan sanda a waɗannan kwanaki na baƙin ciki. Mahaifinta dan Ukraine ne; garin Novocherkassk yana da alaƙar tarihi da yawa tare da Ukraine, kamar yadda mazaunanta na yanzu suke (pop. 170,233 a cikin 2016).