On July 21, a seven-meter votive cross was consecrated in the Assumption Cathedral in Vitebsk, which will be installed in Sevastopol.

The film, shot about our fellow countrymen sailors, was titled “Belarusian Sevastopol”. “How can this be, it’s a Russian city, you might ask?” The point is that sailors, natives of Belarus, played a significant role in the fate of Sevastopol during the Crimean War of 1853-56, other battles, and even today. It is not for nothing that one can walk along streets named Vitebskaya, Minskaya, Mogilevskaya, and Brestskaya there now. By the way, the current commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice-Admiral Alexander Vitko, is from Vitebsk. We don’t have a sea, but there are enough people full of courage and patriotism who have dedicated themselves to serving the fleet. Shoulder to shoulder with Russians and Ukrainians. This is well known to the organizers of the “Maritime Brotherhood – Indestructible!” campaign, which started back in 2011.

Arseniy Kritsky, a member of the central council of the All-Russian Public Organization of Marine Infantry “Typhoon”, undertook to recreate the history of the Black Sea Fleet and tell about Belarusian sailors. Interested people were found who came to help. The result of the work done to perpetuate the memory of Belarusian sailors could be seen recently in Minsk at an exhibition presented during a press conference of the organizers of the “Maritime Brotherhood – Indestructible!” campaign. The next stage is timed to coincide with Navy Day and the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’. On July 29, a поклонный крест (a cross of veneration) will be installed on Pavlovsky Cape in the Nakhimovsky district of Sevastopol. Its consecration took place in the Holy Assumption Cathedral with the participation of Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha. In Sevastopol, the seven-meter cross, made of Belarusian pine, will be visible to all passing ships. It will serve as a reminder that courage and unity lead to victory. Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Captain 1st Rank Yuri Orekhovsky, was on a direct line with the press conference participants. He noted that the installation site is ready and they are eagerly awaiting the Belarusian delegation in Sevastopol.

Incidentally, the Dvina region became the birthplace of many who dedicated their lives to the sea. The small village of Osvyia in the Verkhnedvinsk district alone gave the navy eight senior officers and four submariners. This was reported by Vasily Rudoy, a submarine officer, retired captain of the 1st rank, and holder of the Order of the Red Star, who now lives on the shore of Lake Osvyisky, the second largest lake in Belarus. And the good traditions continue: Vasily Iosifovich founded the country's first club of young sailors, "Gardemariny". As reported by Arseniy Kritsky, a naval museum is planned to be established in Vitebsk to preserve the memory of the past and tell about it to future generations.  

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"