The Krichev Zonal State Archives Institution held events as part of the «Young Archivist» pilot project and the «Archives for School» national campaign

On February 12, 2026, as part of the «Archives for School» national campaign and the «Young Archivist» national campaign, a thematic discussion entitled «As Long as We Remember, We Live» was held for 4th-grade students of Krichev Secondary School No.1. A poster exhibition was prepared to commemorate Internationalist Warriors’ Remembrance Day and the 37th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

Victoria Kondratenko spoke to the students about the joint military operations of Soviet and Afghan government forces, the courage of those who fought, the difficult conditions they endured, and the assistance Soviet soldiers provided to the local population.

Natives of the Krichev region or servicemen somehow connected to it, by the will of fate, participating in the Afghan war, also did not compromise their honor and dignity. Meanwhile, of the «limited contingent», there were about 120 of them; seven did not return home.

These young men died in a foreign, inhospitable land, leaving behind only fond memories and the Order of the Red Star, which one of them was awarded posthumously. These were Viktor Volchkov, Sergei Dubrovin, Vladimir Karpov, Leonid Kravtsov, Sergei Lugovoy, Igor Maslenkov, and Yuri Golovnev.

The young men were shown a poster exhibition, «Afghanistan: Memory in Faces», and also given a tour of the archives.

Pictured: Victoria Kondratenko during a thematic discussion, «As Long as We Remember, We Live», a presentation of the exhibition stand, «Afghanistan: Memory in Faces», and a tour of the archive.