On the Media Intensive at the All-Russian Children’s Center «Orlyonok»

From May 3 to 8, 2026, a media intensive was held at the All-Russian Children’s Center «Orlyonok» as part of the socially significant project «Without Statute of Limitations: Unconquered». The topic of the media intensive was preserving the historical memory of fascist crimes during the Great Patriotic War and understanding the facts of the genocide of the Soviet people through the prism of archival documents.

More than 100 teenage researchers from among the «Orlyonok» (eagles) included in the patriotic film education program, a total of over 1,500, were involved in the work.

Maria Dmitrievna Romanova, chief curator of the funds of the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents, was invited to participate in the media intensive as a speaker from the Republic of Belarus.

During the media intensive, M.D.Romanova held talks during the workweek. A lecture entitled «Through the Eyes of Eyewitnesses: Newsreels, Photographs, and Sound Documents as Evidence of Genocide» was held. As part of the popularization of the archival heritage of the Republic of Belarus, the film «Partisan Republic», produced as part of the «Open Film Archive» project, was shown. Furthermore, publications from the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus were donated to the All-Russian Children’s Center «Orlyonok», and a lecture and presentation on the history and current state of the archival sector of the Republic of Belarus was held.

As part of the media intensive, researchers, with the assistance of speakers, prepared presentation projects based on archival documents and a digital archive of Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper issues from 1941-1945. The work lasted five days, during which the researchers developed the research topic and selected relevant archival documents, including photographs and newsreels. Under the guidance of the speakers, 21 projects dedicated to the genocide of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War were developed and defended. Film and photographic documents provided to the BGAKFFD, as well as digital copies of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, served as research material and indisputable evidence of the crimes of the Nazi occupiers.

The jury recognized the best works, and their authors received awards.

The project defense demonstrated that the work contributed to an understanding of the facts of fascist crimes against humanity during the Great Patriotic War, to a rejection of Nazi ideology, and to the moral and patriotic education of young people.

1. During the opening ceremony of the media intensive. May 2026.

2. During the opening ceremony of the media intensive. May 2026.

3. Presentation of the film «Partisan Republic». May 2026.

4. The chief custodian of the BGAKFFD collections working with the authors of research projects at the Orlyonok All-Russian Children’s Center. May 2026

5. While working on a presentation. May 2026

6. During the awards ceremony for the authors of the best research projects. May 2026

7. During the theatrical performance «Destroyed Childhood», prepared by the media intensive participants. May 2026