On the participation of the State Archives of the Gomel Region in an event dedicated to the liberation of Gomel from Nazi invaders

On November 26, 2025, a roundtable discussion entitled «Gomel Liberation Day in the Memory of Generations» was held at the Gomel State Polytechnical College.

The event was attended by Yulia Kupreeva, Director of the Gomel History Museum; Maya Vaschenko, Senior Researcher at the State Archives of the Gomel Region; Father Ioann, Cleric of the Peter and Paul Cathedral; Pavel Demidenko, Director of Military-Patriotic Education at the College; and senior students.

Maya Vaschenko told the students about the first documents published immediately after the liberation of Gomel. These are documents on the city’s demining activities.

«Peaceful life did not return to Gomel immediately after liberation. The Nazi invaders mined the city with the intention of inflicting damage on the Soviet troops who liberated Gomel». Administrative buildings that could have been used as headquarters and hospitals were mined. The Germans left deadly «gifts» not only in the city but also in the districts, particularly in the Rogachev, Streshinsky, and Terekhovsky districts, where the Germans had heavily defended themselves. Collective farm fields were mined to kill civilians during the sowing season. Sappers carried out extensive mine clearance work, but the brunt of the work fell on the shoulders of volunteers from the OSOAVIAKhIM (now DOSAAF) society. «Unfortunately, there were losses», – said Maya Vaschenko.

Students expressed gratitude, sorrow, and pride for those whose heroic deeds gave the present generation a peaceful sky.

Finally, the roundtable participants watched the BGAKFFD documentary «Liberation of Gomel» and observed a moment of silence in memory of the fallen.

1. P.Demidenko, Director of Military-Patriotic Education at the College, opens the roundtable discussion «Gomel Liberation Day in the Memory of Generations».

2. Presentation by M.Vashchenko, Senior Researcher at the State Archives of the Gomel Region.

3. Presentation by Father John.

4-6. Presentations by College Students.

7. Participants.