For vivid impressions and meeting soulful people — to Vitebsk district
The agro-town of Vymno in the Vitebsk region is known not only in Belarus thanks to the local basic school – for several years now, historical and local lore work has been carried out here, restoring the names of soldiers and officers buried in the territory of the village council from oblivion. At the origins is an IT teacher, laureate of the honorary title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region", an enthusiast Vyacheslav Morozov:
— We have 14 military burial sites. Plus one more grave of an unknown soldier. Over eight thousand names have already been clarified! Of these, about 2800 were not previously listed in the automated database "Book of Memory" of the Republic of Belarus.
The district's coat of arms features the image of the Savior, a sword, and a fragment of the castle tower in Surazh, a fortification that existed in the 16th century. The people in these places are just as solid – "down to earth," as they say. They are hospitable, speak of their native land with sincere warmth, and cherish history and traditions. The Repin Art Museum-Estate in Zdravnevo, the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the tallest man in the world – the giant with roots from the Dvina region, Fyodor Makhnov, acquaintance with characters of Belarusian mythology in Zaronovo…
All this is the Vitebsk region.
Welcome!
— It was possible to find out that he was sent near Murmansk. Nothing was known about my relative, who went missing in 1941, not even that. I haven't lost hope, that my searches will one day be successful.
Teacher Vyacheslav Morozov with students in the school historical and local lore museum.
One of the first to find valuable information on Morozov's website and visit the school museum and the grave of his grandfather's brother was Sergey Potapov from Ivanovo, Russia. Interestingly, he is now a member of a search party himself. And there are many such cases. Each of them is touching, admits Vyacheslav Nikolaevich:
— How can one remain indifferent seeing the tears of an elderly woman who, after many years, finally bowed at her brother's grave? Relatives of famous heroes also come. For example, the national Tatar poet Mansur Gayazov, who died here at the end of 1943.
The village teacher also helps to immortalize the names of the fallen on memorial plaques, involving the families of the liberator soldiers in the cause. Vyacheslav Nikolaevich dreams of participating in a realforest search efforts, and in the near future, they plan to publish the "Book of Memory of the Vymnyansky Rural Council" about fellow countrymen – participants of the Great Patriotic War.
Last year, 14 hectares were planted, this year – 18, and for 2023, about 15 hectares are planned, Elena clarifies:
— We are doing everything to make our district even greener and more beautiful. Of course, we also preserve what we have. The forestry area is considerable – it spans 10 thousand hectares.
The heroine laughs that she knows almost every tree here, because at any time of the year, from morninguntil dark in the forest. Instead of heels, rubber boots, and in her hands, a special electronic tablet. A smart gadget successfully replaces a roulette wheel with a compass. Elena has been involved in forestry for 20 years. At 18, she came to the Vitebsk Forestry Enterprise, initially as a supply manager, later became an accountant, a forest master, and an assistant forester. She obtained two higher education degrees through correspondence courses. Her first degree is in biology, specializing in nature conservation, and her second is in economics. She never doubted that she would choose forestry:
— Except that my husband added the skill of reading animal tracks to his "collection". There are also personal encounters with forest dwellers. This summer, I waved from the car to a clumsy bear who was feasting on sorrel in the pine forest. I've seen roe deer, hares, but I haven't met a lynx yet – the most cautious predator – only its paw prints.
Free time, vacation Elena Golubeva also likes to spend in nature, away from the city. Especially since one of her favorite hobbies is floriculture. Pelargonium, dracaena, orchids delight the eye in the house, and clematis, dahlias, chrysanthemums adorn the flower beds at the dacha. And the bushes of climbing pink, white and scarlet roses are special for the hostess — a gift from her husband for the birth of their son.
— We started our careers at "Lettsy" and we will finish them here, — laughs Tamara Fyodorovna. — We are patriots of our profession and our sanatorium. We even live nearby, on Sanatornaya Street.
Tamara Rummo continued the dynasty. Her mother was an operating nurse, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. She traveled the front lines by military train to Budapest, Prague... After Victory, she worked at the Vitebsk Regional Hospital. Her mother had many orders and medals, Tamara Fyodorovna is proud:
— Looking at her, I understood: medicine is a calling!
Vladimir Evgenievich honestly admits: he was led to university by a happy accident and a love for natural sciences. He studied with his future wife in the same year:
— We came here together by assignment. First, I was a general practitioner, and in 1979, the second department of restorative treatment for patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction opened in "Lettsy". After some time, I was offered to head it.
Vladimir Evgenievich also worked as deputy chief physician for medical affairs, and since 2020, he has been a sanatorium cardiologist. He shares his experience and knowledge with senior students of VGMU:
— We have 14 military burial sites. Plus one more grave of an unknown soldier. Over eight thousand names have already been clarified! Of these, about 2800 were not previously listed in the automated database "Book of Memory" of the Republic of Belarus.
The district's coat of arms features the image of the Savior, a sword, and a fragment of the castle tower in Surazh, a fortification that existed in the 16th century. The people in these places are just as solid – "down to earth," as they say. They are hospitable, speak of their native land with sincere warmth, and cherish history and traditions. The Repin Art Museum-Estate in Zdravnevo, the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the tallest man in the world – the giant with roots from the Dvina region, Fyodor Makhnov, acquaintance with characters of Belarusian mythology in Zaronovo…
All this is the Vitebsk region.
Welcome!
In Memory's Name
Studying lists on the websites "OBD Memorial," "Podvig Naroda," comparing data with the archive of the village executive committee and the plaques on military burial sites is a painstaking, time-consuming, but very necessary task. For Vyacheslav Morozov, it began more than ten years ago. When declassified military archives became available, he began searching for information about his great-grandfather Fedos Lazukov and his wife's great-grandfather Nikolay Voiteshko. The data about the latter was scarce, says Vyacheslav Nikolaevich:— It was possible to find out that he was sent near Murmansk. Nothing was known about my relative, who went missing in 1941, not even that. I haven't lost hope, that my searches will one day be successful.
Teacher Vyacheslav Morozov with students in the school historical and local lore museum.Morozov did not find the thread that would lead him to his own relative. But he realized something else – the opportunity to help thousands of families whose loved ones found their final resting place in the Vymnyansky village council.About the fate of theirmany relatives of front-line soldiers recognized them through the online project "At the Cost of Life". In fact, this is a local archive website with data about the liberators. The author of the idea is also Vyacheslav Morozov.
One of the first to find valuable information on Morozov's website and visit the school museum and the grave of his grandfather's brother was Sergey Potapov from Ivanovo, Russia. Interestingly, he is now a member of a search party himself. And there are many such cases. Each of them is touching, admits Vyacheslav Nikolaevich:
— How can one remain indifferent seeing the tears of an elderly woman who, after many years, finally bowed at her brother's grave? Relatives of famous heroes also come. For example, the national Tatar poet Mansur Gayazov, who died here at the end of 1943.
The village teacher also helps to immortalize the names of the fallen on memorial plaques, involving the families of the liberator soldiers in the cause. Vyacheslav Nikolaevich dreams of participating in a realforest search efforts, and in the near future, they plan to publish the "Book of Memory of the Vymnyansky Rural Council" about fellow countrymen – participants of the Great Patriotic War.
Emerald of the Forest Dynasty
Red hair, green eyes – Elena Golubeva, assistant forester of the Rubovsky forestry of the Vitebsk Leskhoz, is simply beautiful! And an excellent specialist. This is confirmed not only by deserved awards, including a recent diploma from the Ministry of Forestry, but also by hectares of young forest under her close supervision and care.Last year, 14 hectares were planted, this year – 18, and for 2023, about 15 hectares are planned, Elena clarifies:
— We are doing everything to make our district even greener and more beautiful. Of course, we also preserve what we have. The forestry area is considerable – it spans 10 thousand hectares.
The heroine laughs that she knows almost every tree here, because at any time of the year, from morninguntil dark in the forest. Instead of heels, rubber boots, and in her hands, a special electronic tablet. A smart gadget successfully replaces a roulette wheel with a compass. Elena has been involved in forestry for 20 years. At 18, she came to the Vitebsk Forestry Enterprise, initially as a supply manager, later became an accountant, a forest master, and an assistant forester. She obtained two higher education degrees through correspondence courses. Her first degree is in biology, specializing in nature conservation, and her second is in economics. She never doubted that she would choose forestry:
— I have "green" blood. My grandfather dedicated 42 years to the Mezha Forestry. My parents and brother worked at the Vitebsk Forestry. My husband is the chief engineer there. Our 12-year-old son Egor is also already looking towards the forest. This is how a forestry dynasty is forming.Elena Golubeva has loved her native nature and endless emerald expanses since childhood. She fondly recalls how, as a small child, she and her grandfather used to pick cranberries in the swamp.e, memorized medicinal herbs, rejoiced, filling her basket with sturdy porcini mushrooms… Little has changed since then, shares the forester's assistant:
— Except that my husband added the skill of reading animal tracks to his "collection". There are also personal encounters with forest dwellers. This summer, I waved from the car to a clumsy bear who was feasting on sorrel in the pine forest. I've seen roe deer, hares, but I haven't met a lynx yet – the most cautious predator – only its paw prints.
Free time, vacation Elena Golubeva also likes to spend in nature, away from the city. Especially since one of her favorite hobbies is floriculture. Pelargonium, dracaena, orchids delight the eye in the house, and clematis, dahlias, chrysanthemums adorn the flower beds at the dacha. And the bushes of climbing pink, white and scarlet roses are special for the hostess — a gift from her husband for the birth of their son.
They treat with heart
This year, the "Lettsy" sanatorium turns 85. Among the staff, there is a memorable couple — Vladimir Evgenievich and Tamara Fyodorovna Rummo. The couple has been together for almost half a century, and they have dedicated 46 years to their native health and wellness facility. He is a highly qualified cardiologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences, and she is a general practitioner.— We started our careers at "Lettsy" and we will finish them here, — laughs Tamara Fyodorovna. — We are patriots of our profession and our sanatorium. We even live nearby, on Sanatornaya Street.
Tamara Rummo continued the dynasty. Her mother was an operating nurse, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. She traveled the front lines by military train to Budapest, Prague... After Victory, she worked at the Vitebsk Regional Hospital. Her mother had many orders and medals, Tamara Fyodorovna is proud:
— Looking at her, I understood: medicine is a calling!
Vladimir Evgenievich honestly admits: he was led to university by a happy accident and a love for natural sciences. He studied with his future wife in the same year:
— We came here together by assignment. First, I was a general practitioner, and in 1979, the second department of restorative treatment for patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction opened in "Lettsy". After some time, I was offered to head it.
Vladimir Evgenievich also worked as deputy chief physician for medical affairs, and since 2020, he has been a sanatorium cardiologist. He shares his experience and knowledge with senior students of VGMU:
— Students are a special, ua wise and not allowing to "bronze" people. Sometimes they ask: without what qualities can a cardiologist do without? My answer: the heart can only be treated with the heart. A careful, caring, heartfelt approach is needed!
Rummo has two children. His son Sergey and daughter Vera chose their own paths. Grandson Yura is a talented athlete, studying at the CSKA hockey school in Moscow. All hope is on the granddaughters, the grandfather smiles:
— Masha and Evelina are creative ladies, but suddenly one day the family medical genes will awaken in them?
Over the years of work, Vladimir Rummo, together with his colleagues, literally made the hearts of many patients beat anew. Do you want your motor to stay healthy longer? Then a useful tip from Dr. Rummo: give your heart moderate loads, move more. Our hero walks 20,000 steps a day, and also drinks local mineral water "Letchanskaya". It was she, containing almost all the elements of the periodic table, that once became the source of the sanatorium.
They give children wings
Everyone on earth has their own mission. 15 years ago, Zinaida and Mikhail Shelobanov from Zamostochye chose to be foster parents. Their family-type orphanage has become a home for 25 wards. Now another five are growing up: 15-year-old Oleg, 14-year-old Vika, her peer Ivan, 13-year-old Masha, and Zhenya, who is a year younger than her.
boys. And the girls twist our dad around their little fingers (smiles).
— They are all my children, — Zinaida Nikolaevna says warmly. — I don't divide anyone into my own and others'. Three biological daughters are long grown up. The eldest Maria works as a speech therapist in Grodno, Tanya is a physical education teacher, and Dasha is a primary school teacher in Vitebsk.
There are a total of 12 educators in this large, friendly family! But the Shelobanovs have enough reasons for pride anyway. The main one is that their wards are learning to trust, help, and love anew every day... The diploma of a psychologist-teacher came in handy, admits mother Zinaida:
— My husband, he works in the local farm "Lipovtsy", is also always ready to lend a shoulder. Male upbringing is especially important m
Mikhail Mikhailovich leads us to the family "wall of fame":
— Here are photos of all our foster children. You look, and your heart rejoices.On Mother's Day, and now on Father's Day, on birthdays, holidays, foster parents don't let go of their phones — it seems like all of Belarus is on the line! The best large, foster, adoptive family, winners of the regional competition of family creative projects… The Shelоbanovs have countless diplomas and certificates of all kinds. But children's successes warm the soul the most.Zinaida Nikolaevna lists:
— Natasha Ovchinnikova graduated with honors from a pedagogical college and a university, and now teaches in Orsha. Maxim Astapkovich has two higher education degrees, he is an IT specialist and a champion of Belarus in summer multi-event. Olya Azarchenko studies at the University of Physical Education, Nastya Antonovskaya — at the Mogilev Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs… The list of names can go on for a long time, because each of our foster children has their own character, talents, and unique qualities. Helping them to reveal them is our parental task.
Adults and children are always together — both in household chores and in recreation. They arrange bonfires, love to go mushroom and berry picking...
— I caught this pike last year, — Ivan spreads his hands. — Dad taught me to fish!
Vika modestly admits that she likes to cook:
— Salads, syrniki, oladi, pies, and of course, draniki — I learn all the kitchen secrets from my mom.
The children are not idle: they go to summer camps (they have been to "Zubrenok" three times alone), on tourist trips, and even to esports competitions. A year ago, they brought prizes won in Minsk — mobile phones.Love for Literacy and Birch Bark
The atmosphere in the Kurinskaya rural library is created by the hostess Maria Karnovich. A graduate in Belarusian language and literature, she came to the library from the local school. She succeeded her mother, Olga Vladimirovna, in the "book" post.
"I've been a bookworm since childhood," shares Maria:
— I read "The Adventures of Dunno and His Friends in the Sunny City" in the second grade, and that was it. Since then, my motto has been "Not a day without a page." My favorite classics are Korotkevich, Bulgakov, Remarque; among modern authors, I like Ustinova, Mikhalova, Lukyanenko...
The rural library's collection is substantial, numbering around 10,000 volumes. It includes rarities, such as a collection of Kolas published in 1956, and trendy new releases. Maria Alexandrovna has 320 people registered at the circulation desk:
— These are readers from Kurino itself and neighboring villages. It's gratifying that not only adults but also schoolchildren visit us. We have a special program with engaging games for them. The children enthusiastically embraced the active quest "My Village" dedicated to the history of our settlement.
In 2016, the library won a republican competition for its research activities in studying its native village. The institution hosts a unique amateur association for the Vitebsk region called "Otrada." Its heart and founder is Olga Rybakova, Maria Karnovich's mother. "Otrada" members are known for their original crafts made from straw, willow, and, of course, birch bark. Properly processing the latter is a challenging task.
— My mother mastered all the intricacies of the craft herself, says Maria Karnovich. — And she taught me. For example, who would have thought that birch bark needs to be literally "oiled," impregnated with either vegetable or motor oil. After that, it's placed under a press, and then your imagination takes over.
The library's ethnographic corner clearly shows that "Otrada" participants have plenty of imagination: all sorts of birch bark containers, boxes, and even headwear. Maria Karnovich demonstrates her work:— These are bast shoes-amulets for good luck. And this is a more serious undertaking – a nice and practical bast basket. I'm still working on it.Remember, in the fairy tale, the bear carried Masha away in it? Simply put, a birch bark backpack. My mother wove it in memory of her father, my Siberian grandfather.
