"A Day of Mourning for Us": Afghan War Veterans Paid Tribute to Their Comrades in Vitebsk

On this day, participants of that war, their descendants, and people indifferent to the Afghan tragedy gathered here. Lyubov Yanchilenko worked in the mess hall of a military unit in Afghanistan in 1985-1987. Arriving as an energetic 25-year-old girl, she hoped that this job would be almost ordinary, as no one could have imagined the real situation in the country where a real war was going on. "Everything was painted in rosy colors for us, and when we met those returning home on the way, they told us: 'Girls, where are you going, why?' At that time, we understood that if women could be at the front as nurses, soldiers, or snipers in the Great Patriotic War, then we could too. We saw everything in Afghanistan – the wounded and the killed, our girls also died, although no one spoke about it for many years. Today is a day of mourning for us; we remember everyone who remained in Afghanistan and did not return to their homeland," Lyubov Yanchilenko said.

For over three decades, the pain of loss has not subsided only in women's hearts. Seasoned warriors and brave soldiers, officers cannot hold back tears when recalling the Afghan war and comrades fallen on the battlefield. Eyewitnesses of those events tell their compatriots what war is and how terrible its consequences are.

"The limited contingent of Soviet troops entered Afghanistan when interethnic conflicts were already underway there. Our main task was to stabilize the situation and provide effective assistance to the country's leadership in democratic and social transformations. We saved thousands of people from starvation, provided medical assistance, and built industrial and social facilities. The older generation of Afghans remembers us with gratitude. Unfortunately, it so happened that we were drawn into hostilities, and as a result, we suffered heavy losses. More than 15,000 Soviet citizens died there. Vitebsk region lost 160 people in Afghanistan. This is grief and pain, primarily for mothers, widows, and children. 34 years have passed. We have grown up, become wiser, and, of course, we are against war, various manifestations of military actions, and believe that issues should be resolved peacefully," noted Valeryan Matskevich, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the Public Association "Belarusian Union of War Veterans in Afghanistan."

Participants of the requiem rally laid flowers at the memorial sign, and Afghan war veterans recalled the names of all their comrades who died on the battlefield.

BELTA.