In Vitebsk, they honored the memory of internationalist soldiers

February 15 marked the Day of Remembrance of Soldiers-Internationalists and the 27th anniversary of the withdrawal of the limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

In Vitebsk, wreaths and flowers were laid at the "Pain" monument. Relatives and friends, combat comrades, heads of the region and the city, and representatives of public organizations came to honor the memory of the fallen. Pupils of the Vitebsk Cadet School stood along the alleys with portraits of the heroes.

— Bowing our heads to the memory of our countrymen and paying tribute to the veterans of that war, we must worthily continue the traditions of courage and heroism inherent in our people, — said the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, in his speech at the rally.

The head of the region emphasized that the state counts on the "Afghan" veterans in solving socio-economic tasks, forming and supporting patriotic consciousness, love, and loyalty to the Motherland. Nikolai Sherstnev wished everyone health, peaceful skies, happiness, and that the memory of the fallen would become stronger every year.

The rally also heard speeches from Valeryan Matskevich, chairman of the regional organization of the NGO "Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan," and the secretary of the primary organization of the BRSM of the 103rd Separate Guards Mobile Brigade, Senior

Lieutenant Andrei Balanescu, the widow of Major Anatoly Skobov, Elena Skobova.

The attendees honored the memory of the fallen with a minute of silence. All 160 natives of Vitebsk region who gave their lives while fulfilling their international duty were named. A salute was fired to the sounds of the National Anthem.

Sergey Lyashuk. Photo by Anton Stepanishchev. "Vitebskiye vesti".