GOMEL, 7 May (BelTA) - Thousands of school students have already walked the roads of memory, visiting sites that are significant for every Belarusian, and this is not just a touch of history but an understanding of the price at which our country’s independence was won, Gomel Oblast Governor Ivan Krupko said during the plenary session of the Second Youth Military-Patriotic Forum “Patriotic Education of Youth - the Foundation of State Independence” in Gomel on 7 May, BelTA has learned.
According to the governor, Gomel Oblast has built a comprehensive system of military-patriotic education in recent years. “These are no longer isolated initiatives, but a well-considered state policy at the regional level. More than 2,500 young people are involved in specialized associations, over 110 specialized classes are operating, and clubs based at law enforcement agencies are actively developing. Behind these numbers are real young people who consciously choose the path of serving the Fatherland,” the governor said.
According to him, the results of this work are already visible. “Our teams are winning at the national level. Our teachers are becoming the best in the country. Our young people are entering military academies and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But most importantly, a generation is being formed for whom words like ‘duty’, ‘honor’, and ‘responsibility’ are filled with real meaning,” Ivan Krupko said.
The governor assured that the oblast will continue to develop infrastructure, strengthen its material and technical base, expand the network of clubs, and support youth initiatives. “But the key factor for success is you yourselves. Your activity, your stance, your understanding of responsibility for the country’s future. I am confident that our youth will do everything to ensure that the future is as the Soldiers of Victory bequeathed to us - strong, peaceful, and worthy,” Ivan Krupko concluded.
The Second Youth Military-Patriotic Forum has been taking place in Gomel on 6-7 May. The forum was initiated by the Council of the Republic. The first forum was held in Minsk in December 2025. This year, the event has brought together more than 300 young people from different parts of the country, including members of military-patriotic clubs and organizations actively involved in fostering patriotism.
According to the governor, Gomel Oblast has built a comprehensive system of military-patriotic education in recent years. “These are no longer isolated initiatives, but a well-considered state policy at the regional level. More than 2,500 young people are involved in specialized associations, over 110 specialized classes are operating, and clubs based at law enforcement agencies are actively developing. Behind these numbers are real young people who consciously choose the path of serving the Fatherland,” the governor said.
According to him, the results of this work are already visible. “Our teams are winning at the national level. Our teachers are becoming the best in the country. Our young people are entering military academies and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But most importantly, a generation is being formed for whom words like ‘duty’, ‘honor’, and ‘responsibility’ are filled with real meaning,” Ivan Krupko said.
At the same time, patriotic education is impossible without relying on
historical truth, he believes. “Thousands of our school students have
walked the roads of memory, visiting places that are significant for
every Belarusian: from Krasny Bereg and Ola to Khatyn and the Brest
Fortress. And this is not just a touch of history. It is an
understanding of the price at which our country’s independence was won,”
the governor said.
He drew attention to external attempts to
intensify pressure on traditional values, to rewrite history, and to
deprive young people of moral guidance. “In these circumstances, it is
necessary to make historical memory an internal conviction of every
young person. But modern patriotism is not only about knowing history.
It is the ability to act, to make decisions, and to be useful to one’s
country,” the governor said. 
“You take part in search projects, work with archives, and restore the
names of heroes. You engage in volunteer activities, help people, and
improve your native land. You learn the basics of first aid and master
modern technologies. It is precisely in this combination of traditions
and modern knowledge that a true citizen and defender of one’s country
is formed,” the governor addressed the younger generation.
He
cited the cadets of the Lazurit and Skif military-patriotic centers as
vivid examples of this principle. “I am sure there are many more of
them, but I have personally met with these particular young patriots on
several occasions. For them, defending the homeland is already a
conscious choice,” said Ivan Krupko. 
He also highlighted the special role of mentors in this work. “Officers, educators, and veterans pass on not only knowledge but also a personal example of service to the country. Without this, it is impossible to raise a strong generation,” the governor is convinced.
The governor assured that the oblast will continue to develop infrastructure, strengthen its material and technical base, expand the network of clubs, and support youth initiatives. “But the key factor for success is you yourselves. Your activity, your stance, your understanding of responsibility for the country’s future. I am confident that our youth will do everything to ensure that the future is as the Soldiers of Victory bequeathed to us - strong, peaceful, and worthy,” Ivan Krupko concluded.
The Second Youth Military-Patriotic Forum has been taking place in Gomel on 6-7 May. The forum was initiated by the Council of the Republic. The first forum was held in Minsk in December 2025. This year, the event has brought together more than 300 young people from different parts of the country, including members of military-patriotic clubs and organizations actively involved in fostering patriotism.
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