«Afghanistan is a living memory»

On February 14, 2023, on the eve of the Day of Remembrance of the Soldiers-Internationalists, employees of the Zonal State Archive in Kobrin, including members of the NGO «Belarusian Republican Youth Union», visited the Kobrin-Maloritskaya MRO of DOSAAF. A museum room has been organized within its walls, the exposition of which is dedicated to the Afghan war of 1979-1989.

The creator, keeper and permanent guide of the museum room is Andrey Melinchuk, a retired lieutenant colonel, an internationalist warrior and deputy chairman of the Kobrin regional organization of the public association «Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan». Andrey Melinchuk is also a source of acquisition of the state archive, the documents of which are part of the collection of documents of personal origin.

The exposition presents the combat operations of the Kobrin helicopter squadron in Afghanistan. During the tour, Andrei Vladimirovich demonstrated various military exhibits, orders and medals, spoke about the service, about the dedication of our soldiers in a combat situation, about everyday life in rather specific climatic conditions for our people.

At the end of the meeting, the director of the State Archives, Yevgenia Homenchuk, presented a memorial gift to the veteran and wished him long life and good health.

1. Andrei Vladimirovich about the war in Afghanistan

2. Archivists and Melinchuk Andrei – an internationalist warrior

3. Kobrin flag of the Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan

4. Melinchuk A.V. during the tour

5. Museum room stands

6. Exhibits of the museum room