MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – The memory of the Soviet soldiers, who died in combat operations in Afghanistan, was honored on the Island of Courage and Sorrow in Minsk on 15 February, BelTA has learned.
Representatives of government agencies, public organizations, veteran organizations, the Belarusian army, cadets of military education institutions, veterans of the Afghanistan war, mothers and widows of the fallen took part in a solemn ceremony to lay wreaths and flowers followed by a commemorative rally to mark 30 years since the Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan.
First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Ryzhenkov read out the head of state's address on this occasion.
According to Belarusian Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Andrei Ravkov, the war in Afghanistan was the largest one out of more than 30 local wars the Soviet Union had taken part in. The need to take measures to bolster the country's military security was the key lesson learned from the war in Afghanistan just like the other conflicts.
“Those soldiers demonstrated courage and heroism. They did their duty in full without breaking their oaths. Over 30,000 of our citizens walked those roads and over 700 people did not come back alive,” Andrei Ravkov said. He wished the survivors, their families and friends peace, good health, and wellbeing.
Chairman of the Minsk City Council of Deputies Vasily Panasyuk stressed that the city budget spends considerable amounts of money to support war veterans and former Soviet peacekeepers. The latest decision of the Minsk City Executive Committee has authorized additional monthly benefits on top of the pensions awarded to spouses, whose husbands were killed in Afghanistan. The Island of Courage and Sorrow stands as a symbol of the war in Afghanistan. Part of the Svisloch River waterfront has been named in honor of the internationalist soldiers.
Vasily Panasyuk said: “Military conflicts took lives of 94 Minsk residents. Their brothers in arms, parents, children, and wives will always remember them.”
Lyudmila Adamova, Chairwoman of the national association Memory and Duty, which unites families of the military personnel, who perished in Afghanistan, thanked everyone for coming to honor the memory of the fallen. “That war left a mark not only on our hearts, but also the heart of the country. May life under peaceful skies last forever,” she added.
Every year on 15 February Belarus marks the Internationalist Soldiers Remembrance Day. Commemorative events on this occasion take place all over Belarus. At present Belarus is home to about 24,400 internationalist soldiers, who took part in combat operations in Afghanistan. They still demonstrate a proactive attitude and help raise the younger generation as patriots together with veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
A one-minute silence took place during the commemorative rally to honor the memory of the fallen. Wreaths and flowers from government agencies, public organizations, and veterans were laid at the foot of the memorial complex.
