Internationalist Warrior Remembrance Day at the Zonal State Archives in Kobrin

February 15th is a day to remember the courage and heroism of internationalist soldiers who served in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.

In anticipation of this day, the State Archives opened its doors to 10th-grade students from Kobrin Secondary School No.4 for a remembrance lesson dedicated to this important and tragic chapter in our history.

The meeting began with a deep dive into the atmosphere of those years. The students were shown the video «Afghan Album», produced by the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (BSAFPD) in collaboration with the Television News Agency (ATN). The harsh landscapes of Afghanistan and the soldiers’ faces allowed the students not only to learn about the events but also to feel them, to experience them personally.

Particular attention was paid to personal stories. The children were shown documents of internationalist soldiers A.V. Melinchuk and N.K. Astafyev, part of a collection of personal documents kept in the archive. These invaluable testimonies allowed them to touch the lives of individual soldiers and understand that behind the dry lines of history lie living lives, dreams, hopes, and, unfortunately, losses. Awards, photographs, and letters—each document seemed to come to life, telling its own story of courage, friendship, and devotion to duty.

This memory lesson was more than just a tour; it was a true journey through time, allowing the students to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the heroic deeds of the internationalist soldiers. Such encounters in archives, where evidence of the past is preserved, play a vital role in the patriotic education of young people. They help preserve the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for peace and justice, and pass this memory on to future generations.

The memory of internationalist soldiers lives on, and such lessons are our shared contribution to preserving it.

1. Students watching a video

2-3. Students reviewing documents of internationalist soldiers