A large-scale reconstruction of the "Pain" memorial to internationalist soldiers is planned in Vitebsk

In the Vitebsk region, the memory of internationalist soldiers is deeply honored. Our regional center houses the only museum in Belarus dedicated to the war in Afghanistan. The monument to internationalist soldiers, "Pain," has long been a place of pilgrimage, glory, sorrow, and pride. This memorial must be preserved for future generations. This opinion was unanimously expressed at the Museum of Internationalist Soldiers by participants of a meeting with the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, which addressed the need for the memorial's reconstruction.

907 soldiers of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, stationed in Vitebsk, did not return from the battlefields in Afghanistan. The names of another 160 of our countrymen, residents of the Vitebsk region who died in that war, are forever engraved on memorial plaques, along which lies the path to the chapel and the sculpture "Pain." 160 thuya trees symbolize the fallen "Afghan" soldiers.

This memorial is over 25 years old, and time has not spared it. The tiles are noticeably crumbling, the thuya trees have grown too large and obscured the monument, and the paint has faded... In February of next year, it will be 35 years since the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. It is a matter of honor to complete, if not fully, then a significant volume of work by this date to renovate the Wall of Memory, the sculpture, and the memorial grounds.

– In the future, here on Voinov-Internatsionalistov Street, with the completion of the construction of the Holy Archangel Michael Church, the commissioning of the bath and wellness complex, and the landscaping of the "Afghan" monument, a unique architectural complex will emerge, capable of adorning our regional center, – noted Alexander Subbotin. – It is necessary to carry out a major overhaul of the memorial. Concurrently, we need to focus on improving the Vitebsk City Museum of Internationalist Soldiers and updating its exhibits.

The head of the region instructed the city authorities, with the participation of the state enterprise "Vitebsk Zelenstroy", which owns the memorial, and the regional and city structures of the NGO "Belarusian Union of War Veterans of Afghanistan", to decide on the project for large-scale reconstruction, the scope of work to be performed, and the sources of funding. Alexander Subbotin paid special attention to the quality of work, which will ensure the longevity of the memorial.

An important point is the accumulation of funds for the upcoming repair. Part will be allocated from the budget, but public organizations, paratroopers, and volunteers should be involved, and a voluntary collection of funds should be announced, and assistance should be sought from the Standing Committee of the Union State. The issue of allocating part of the funds earned during the community work day for reconstruction will be considered.

The Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Nikolai Orlov, proposed that the chairmen of the regional organization "BSVVA", Valerian Matskevich, and the city organization "Bratstvo", Valery Ananchenko, take the initiative and organize members of the organizations to perform part of the feasible work within the framework of the community work day. This proposal was accepted.

"Vitebskiye Vesti"