Vitebsk marked the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers and the 32nd anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan
It has been 32 years since the last soldier left Afghanistan. But time does not heal the wounds inflicted by war. It is even more painful when one had to lose comrades-in-arms far from their Motherland. About 30,000 Belarusians fought in Afghanistan as part of the limited contingent. More than 1,500 were wounded, concussed, or maimed, over 700 returned home as disabled, 723 died, and 12 are listed as missing.
Among those who were the first to go to a foreign country to fulfill their international duty were servicemen of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division and pilots of the 339th Military Transport Aviation Regiment stationed in the Vitebsk region.
– February 15 is a day of joy and sorrow. The Afghan War has entered the history of our country; it has affected the destinies of those who fought, fulfilling their duty, and the destinies of mothers, wives, and children. During the hostilities, 160 of our countrymen died, and subsequently, more than 1300 residents of the region died from wounds and diseases. The war left a deep scar. It so happened that the return to the Motherland coincided with the collapse of the country that sent young men to a foreign war. Therefore, some were lost and struggled to cope with severe stress. The task of our organization is to protect those who have suffered, primarily the disabled, of whom there are 168 registered. We do not neglect widows and mothers. It is also important to note that many former "Afghans" today hold an active position in society, receiving awards not for combat, but for dedicated labor, – emphasized Valerian Matskevich, Chairman of the regional organization of the Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan.
The Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers is being celebrated in all district centers of the region. In Vitebsk, people traditionally gathered on Voinev-Internatsionalistov Street at the "Bol" (Pain) memorial complex. Every year, Vyacheslav Kibirev, who served in Afghanistan twice – in 1981 and from 1984 to 1987 – visits this sacred place. The names of his comrades, who remained eternally young, are engraved on the granite slab. He was also 24 years old when he, as a parachute platoon commander, embarked on his first combat mission to the distant mountainous country.
– The memory of my friends, of my youth, calls me here. Those events cannot be erased from the heart; they will remain for life with everyone who went through the crucible of that war, – Vyacheslav Ivanovich replied to the question about the feelings he experiences when confronting his combat past.
The solemn rally at the memorial complex began with the laying of wreaths and flowers. Following the tradition established from the first day, soldiers with portraits of fallen internationalist soldiers lined up on the memorial alley.
– Almost a quarter of a century ago, this place appeared in Vitebsk, and it has become sacred. It is a place of grief, of loss – the "Bol" memorial complex. On solemn occasions, various people come here: those who lost loved ones and friends, those who went through the crucible of the Afghan war, those who know it from books and eyewitness accounts. For me, this war is the memories of a ten-year-old teenager whose classmates' parents flew to Afghanistan. Later, in adulthood, it was getting acquainted with the "Afghan veterans" who returned from the war. Time relentlessly moves forward. Unfortunately, many have passed away due to illnesses, wounds, and age. But memory remains. It is important to pass it on to the younger generation, – said Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, addressing the attendees.
The head of the regional parliamentary corps also emphasized that if we do not talk about the heroism of ordinary guys who fulfilled their international duty, if we do not pay attention to the patriotic education of youth, memory can fade. Unfortunately, by the fourth generation, young people are beginning to forget what a feat their great-great-grandfathers accomplished during the Great Patriotic War.
– Recalling the events of the Afghan war, today we must talk not about the geopolitical interests of a once great power, but about male friendship, duty, honor, and oath. About the fallen, – continued Vladimir Terentyev.
Valery Ananchenko, chairman of the Vitebsk city organization "Bratstvo" of the Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan, spoke about the devotion to the Motherland of Soviet soldiers who fought on foreign soil.
– One can reason and argue about whether it was a mistake to enter into a military conflict in a distant country. But we have nothing to be ashamed of. We fulfilled our military duty, having learned to fight against the nascent world evil of international terrorism in the Afghan war. Life has united us, forged by those hot years into a strong combat brotherhood. Our organization is called "Bratstvo". Veterans – "Afghans" by their own example show the courage of a soldier – defender of the Fatherland, they teach the younger generation to truly love their Motherland, – noted Valery Ananchenko.
On behalf of the current soldiers who are defending the country, Colonel Alexey Yelfimov, commander of the 103rd Vitebsk Guards Separate Airborne Brigade, spoke at the rally.
– We must preserve the memory of the people who went through the crucible of that war.
The brigade became the successor to the renowned airborne division, the first to be sent to Afghanistan in 1979. Young people who are currently undergoing compulsory service in it are honorably fulfilling their assigned tasks and their military duty, – emphasized the Guards Colonel.
Current paratroopers, cadets of the Vitebsk Cadet School, schoolchildren, representatives of the city authorities, public organizations, and residents of Vitebsk came to the rally. A minute of silence was observed in sorrowful silence, the names of all those who died in distant Afghanistan, called out one by one, echoed with pain in their hearts. Pain, like memory, has no statute of limitations.