Summary

The story “Novostroïka” takes place in Soviet Ukraine in the 1980s. The protagonist, Daniil, works as an engineer in a food-packing plant. He lives in a small apartment, and the building address is 1933 Invasnk Street. He lives with about twelve other people, whom the government has assigned as cohabitants, and the living conditions are very cramped. One day, the heat stops working. Daniil goes to the local bureaucratic office to request that the heat be fixed. The office has no record of the address, so they are unsure if they will be able to fix the heat. Daniil goes to work the next day, where he is employed in finding ways of packing food more efficiently. He receives no pay, and he works very little, as the plant is in disarray and has no way of meeting its supply...