Bad mother... He lived and obviously she was able to take care of him. He's alive. "Mom" probably murdered his siblings too. If he gets to her grave, I hope he has time to unzip...
This was during WWII in Russia - probably one of the most brutal and harshest places to live at the time. Living under the hell of Stalinism while trying to survive Hitler's attacks. I don't condone what his mom did, but I can see the desparation and savageness of the times that could lead someone to do this.
Maybe it was mom who was also leaving the gas valve open and who pushed him into the river as a child. Poor guy. I hope he wins the big screen television.