Peacekeepers returning from Kazakhstan were met in Vitebsk
Seven in the evening. It must be at this time that there are so many people at the gates of the 103rd Brigade. Relatives, fellow servicemen, invited guests – everyone is waiting for the peacekeepers. It is noteworthy that there are many families with children. Captain Roman Senkovsky also came here with his young son Ivan and wife Anastasia. One must learn courage and dignity from such – the very best examples, believes Roman Alexandrovich:
– I am meeting a comrade with whom we are friends with our families. What feeling did I experience when I learned that our guys were going on a peacekeeping mission to fraternal Kazakhstan? Pride, of course! The task was given, and they completed it with honor. I want my son to see firsthand what it means to be a true defender.
Lyudmila Grosu, mother of one of the peacekeepers, cannot hide her tears of joy. Her only son, Vadim, is 29 years old, and to avoid worrying his family unnecessarily, he asked not to be met upon arrival. But his mother and her close friend, who are waiting for the serviceman with a bouquet of scarlet roses, have prepared a surprise for him. His father stayed home and is setting the table, which will feature Vadim's favorite dish – Olivier salad.
We have a dynasty, Lyudmila Grigoryevna shares:
– My husband is an officer, a lieutenant colonel, and my son followed in his footsteps, serving under contract. In our family, we have always known what patriotism is, and not from hearsay. My own uncle, Vadim's second cousin, served in 1945 in the brigade of Soviet soldiers who hoisted the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. Two of my aunts were liaisons in a partisan detachment. They were very young girls when they were killed by policemen… The news that Pavel, along with his comrades, went to Kazakhstan on a peacekeeping mission came as a surprise to us. So much so that we learned about it from the media. And then we studied the terrible events that were happening in Kazakhstan as closely as we could. I am grateful to God that he protected our children! And on behalf of all mothers, sincere thanks to the commanders who returned our sons to us, to their native Belarusian land, alive and well. Such a mission is the first in 30 years, so our guys became part of history. We are proud! We understand that the coup in Kazakhstan did not happen, in part, thanks to our peacekeepers. We also express the hope that there will be peace throughout the world and that such events will not be repeated.
Lyudmila Grosu believes that the peacekeepers of the 103rd Brigade can become the very guides who will give the younger generation of Belarus a lesson in patriotism. As real witnesses of the events in Kazakhstan, they will come to schools, colleges, and universities to talk about how military friendship and the brotherhood of all our republics are an important force.
The arriving column of equipment with peacekeepers was met with a friendly "Hurrah" and applause. The first to welcome those who returned home was the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin:
– There is such a profession – to defend the Motherland! One of the most difficult, dangerous, and at the same time, the noblest and most honorable. You have shown that you worthily carry the banner of your unit, you are the pride of the country, and rightfully – the continuers of the traditions laid down by your predecessors. In the past few days, you have done a very important job: you have shown that Belarusians can complete any task, that we have high combat capability and are always ready to lend a shoulder to our allies, and we never refuse our commitments. And most importantly, you have made it clear to the whole world that if, God forbid, something happens, we and our allies will stand shoulder to shoulder, ready to respond to any challenge.
After the official part, the peacekeepers were met with the most pleasant thing – warm words and hugs from mothers and wives, sons and daughters. Officers are often sparing with words, but their faces unmistakably told – this is pure happiness. Emotions are overflowing, admits peacekeeper Dmitry Yatsuk:
– The conditions in which the mission took place are familiar to us, thanks to the exercises. And the most memorable, vivid moment of the mission was… arriving in Belarus. The feeling when you step off the ramp and realize: you are finally home.
The wait was not easy for Dmitry's wife, Elena, either:
– The first few days were the hardest due to the lack of communication. Relatives, friends, everyone who knew that her husband was in the peacekeeping company was very worried. 5-year-old Angelina and 3-year-old Arseny were also worried about their dad. Today we are all together, and this feeling is incomparable. Being a soldier's wife is about responsibility, rear support, and encouragement. I am sure that while in Kazakhstan, our husband and father definitely knew: even if not nearby, we are always with him in spirit.
Another peacekeeper, Maxim Milovanov, shares:
– The tasks set for our contingent have been fully completed. We guarded the military airfield and ensured its defense. We closely interacted with our Kazakh colleagues, organizing everything together at the highest professional level. Personally, I was confident in every member of our mission! And the guys did not let us down.
Does he realize that he, along with other Belarusian peacekeepers, has become part of history? The interlocutor honestly replies that not yet. Now, the maximum task for the Vitebsk resident is somewhat different – not combat, not training, but human. To come home, to hug his wife Yulia, daughter Darina, and son Egor. They are not on the parade ground, but they are eagerly awaiting their dad at home.
