Vitebsk school named after heroic Belarusian sailor Anatoly Ispenkov

Traditionally, on these winter days, events dedicated to the memory of Anatoly Ispenkov are held in Vitebsk. He was our countryman, the commander of the electrical engineering division of the submarine "Komsomolets", which sank in 1989 in the Norwegian Sea. Relatives of the hero and former comrades-in-arms, who come from all corners of the former Soviet Union, take part in these events.

The first event was a ceremony marking the decision of the city executive committee to name Secondary School No. 8 of the regional center after the sailor. The native of Shumilino district studied here from the 5th grade to graduation. Guests are informed about this by a memorial plaque installed last year in front of the educational institution. Before the start, those gathered, many of whom personally knew the hero submariner, honored the memory of Anatoly Ispenkov, posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Star, with a minute of silence. The director of Secondary School No. 8, Elena Koroleva, expressed hope that the current students will always remember the name of the sailor and will be worthy of the memory of our countryman with their deeds.

A video clip was shown telling how Anatoly Ispenkov performed his feat, providing electricity and light to the damaged submarine until the very end. Welcoming the numerous guests, the chairman of the regional council of veterans, Gennady Egorov, noted that their public organization is doing everything possible to restore the names of those who laid down their lives on the altar of the Great Victory and performed heroic deeds in the post-war period. The chairman of the regional organization of the Belarusian Union of Naval Sailors, Captain 1st Rank Anatoly Kovalev, who knew many of those who died on the "Komsomolets", spoke with emotion. And thanks to the efforts of the head of the Shumilino district organization (who was also present in the hall), Anatoly Bychkov, a memorial sign to the hero sailors was erected on the city lake. The official part concluded with a concert program prepared by the students. However, the former comrades-in-arms were in no hurry to leave, studying the school corner dedicated to the crew member of the "Komsomolets" and reminiscing about "days gone by".

Interesting fact. The XXIV International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in memory of Anatoly Ispenkov and fallen submariners, currently taking place in the regional center, was originally organized on the initiative of Anatoly Kovalenko, with whom the future sailor sat at the same desk. Currently, more than 220 athletes from not only our country but also from Latvia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine are participating in the competition. Some of them also attended a school event, so it is believed that they will take home not only impressions of Belarusian hospitality but also the memory of our countryman who fulfilled his military duty to the end. It is symbolic that the sports school where the competitions are held, like the submarine that became Anatoly Ispenkov's final resting place, is named "Komsomolets".

Ales Byньkov, photos by Anton Stepanishchev, "Vitebskiye Vesti".