On holding a round table at the institution «State Archives of the Gomel Region» dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers

On February 11, 2025, in the reading room of the institution «State Archives of the Gomel Region» as part of the pilot project «Archives – to School», a round table «Scorched by the Fire of Afghanistan» was held, dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers, which is held annually on February 15.

The event was attended by the First Deputy Head of the Main Justice Department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee Andrei Gurzhiy, Director of the Gomel Regional Archive Yuri Shestopalov, Chairman of the Novobelitsky District Organization of the ROO «Belaya Rus» Lyubov Tkach, Chairmen of the District Organizations of the Public Associations «Belarusian Union of Officers» Yuri Lebedev, the Council of Veterans of the Novobelitsky District Vladimir Kozyrev, the military leader of the State Educational Institution «Secondary School No.1 of Gomel» Maksim Bulanchikov, honorary guests – participants in the military operations in Afghanistan Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Lisogursky, Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Denisenko, Sergeant Petr Poplevko, students of Secondary School No.1 and archive employees.

Director of the archive Yuri Shestopalov said that February 15 is the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Soldiers in Belarus. The memory of the people who took part in the difficult Afghan war, which lasted 9 years, was immortalized by the decree of the President of Belarus in March 1998. About 30 thousand soldiers – privates and officers – went through the crucible of the Afghan war, of which 735 people did not return home. This conflict is a combination of tragedy and heroism. We are obliged to remember our heroes who defended the southern borders and fulfilled their international duty.

Lyubov Tkach told the students about the Belarusian heroes of the Afghan war. These are five natives of Belarus: Guard Private Andrei Aleksandrovich Melnikov, Guard Senior Sergeant Nikolai Petrovich Chepik, GRU Special Forces officer Evgeny Georgievich Sergeev, battalion commander of the 345th Guards Separate Parachute Regiment Vasily Vasilyevich Pimenov, major, helicopter squadron commander Vasily Vasilyevich Shcherbakov. The guests, participants in the Afghan war, recalled that on this day in 1989, the last column of Soviet troops left the territory of Afghanistan. Fierce battles in a foreign land continued for nine years and fifty-one days. In incredibly difficult combat conditions, constantly exposed to mortal danger, Soviet soldiers remained faithful to their military oath, military and human duty. Remembrance Day of Internationalist Soldiers is a tribute to all those who fought and died, who returned but did not live to see this day, for whom the words duty and honor were the most important in life.

Summing up the round table, Andrei Gurzhiy addressed the students with words about the need to study the history of Belarus, critically understand historical facts, prevent falsification and rewriting, which is essentially the preservation of the historical heritage of our country.

In conclusion, the participants of the event honored with a minute of silence all the heroes of the Afghan war who honorably fulfilled their international duty.

1. Speech by the director of the archive Yu.Shestopalov

2. Chairman of the Novobelitsky district organization of the ROO «Belaya Rus» Lyubov Tkach tells the students about the internationalist heroes of Belarus.

3. Participants in the military operations in Afghanistan talk about military events

4. Participants in the military operations in Afghanistan answer students’ questions

5. Honorary guests and organizers of the round table «Scorched by the fire of Afghanistan»

6. Participants of the event