In Polotsk, land from the burial sites of Moldovans who died in the region during the Great Patriotic War was handed over

A ceremony was held near the Mound of Immortality in Polotsk to transfer soil from the burial sites of Moldovan soldiers who died in Belarus during the Great Patriotic War.

In Polotsk, Verkhnedvinsk, Lepel, Postavy, Rossony districts, and Novopolotsk, there are mass graves where the sons of Moldova rest. Currently, 77 names of Moldovan soldiers who died on the territory of our country have been identified.

At the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the Republic of Belarus, soil was collected from all burial sites located in Sineokaya. The Embassy of Moldova has already received it from almost all regions.

Upon completion of the event, one of the capsules with soil is planned to be placed in the crypt of the Church-Monument to All Saints in Minsk, and the second one – in the museum of the memorial complex "Sherpen Bridgehead" in Moldova. This place is especially revered by Moldovans: in 1944, the bloodiest battles of the Jassy-Kishinev offensive took place here, as a result of which Moldova was liberated from the Nazi invaders by the Red Army.

– In the Great Patriotic War, Belarusians were the first among all Soviet peoples to bear the brunt of the enemy's attack, – noted at the solemn ceremony Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Shevchuk. – Millions of lives – this is the price we paid for freedom, independence, and a peaceful sky. The land of Polotsk became the arena of the most brutal battles. Evidence of this is the 116 military burials on its territory. Representatives of different peoples, whom we confidently call fraternal, fought shoulder to shoulder for Victory. Among them are Moldovans. It is symbolic that the soil transfer ceremony is taking place at a sacred place for every resident of Polotsk – near the Mound of Immortality.

Head of Polotsk District Nikolai Shevchuk: By transferring soil from military burial sites where Moldovan soldiers rest to the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova, we pay tribute to the heroes who paid with their lives for our peaceful present and future.

Of the 400,000 Moldovans who participated in the Great Patriotic War, more than half perished.

– It is difficult to imagine what would have happened if not for the unity of the Soviet peoples in this terrible and great war, – said Victor Sorochian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Belarus. – Today, as then, we need this unity. I am grateful to all Belarusians who sacredly preserve the memory of the fallen. I hope that this will further strengthen the friendship and brotherhood between the two peoples.

The handover of the land was preceded by a memorial litany for the fallen soldiers. The poignancy of the moment was emphasized by a touching choreographic composition with candles. Those present froze in a solemn minute of silence. Flowers were laid at the foot of the Mound of Immortality, and volleys of a military salute were fired. The honor guard company marched past with a steady pace.

Elena KALENIK, Polotsk.
Photo by Andrey MARTSEVICH.