Polotsk Cadet School is preparing for its housewarming
Archaeologists Led the Way
...It's hard to believe that just a few years ago, there were abandoned buildings of the hospital town here. Now the territory is fragrant with green flowerbeds and decorative plantings, reconstructed and new buildings sparkle with fresh paint, flagpoles strive upwards in anticipation of banners, a multifunctional sports ground with artificial turf beckons, a wonderful observation deck invites everyone to relax, and original lighting in the evenings gives this unique corner of ancient Polotsk a special charm...— We had to stop many times during construction, — says Alexander Frol, Deputy General Director of the Vitebsk Construction Directorate. — We gave the green light to archaeologists who conducted preliminary excavations. The result of the latter is a large number of historically important finds and artifacts. Do you see that interesting configuration laid out with tiles over there? So, along the perimeter of the already non-existent building, we marked the remains of a 12th-century temple discovered during excavation work.
The next relic is a three-story building made of old red brick. In accordance with the project, the appearance of the house, built in 1910 to accommodate teachers of the legendary and one of the oldest in Tsarist Russia Polotsk Cadet Corps, was preserved as accurately as possible. At the window level, there is a shell-hole artifact. This is a trace of a projectile that flew here during the Great Patriotic War.
— It was decided not to remove such a noticeable defect — after all, this is one of the pages of the glorious history of the indomitable Belarusian people, — says Stanislav Krasovsky, Director of the Polotsk Cadet School, joining the conversation.
— Our task is to raise true patriots of our native country. And the place,
— a vivid lesson, imbued with the glory and military valor of our compatriots. Therefore, a special exhibition dedicated to our contemporary hero Nikita Kukonenko will occupy a worthy place in our museum.
Emulate the Hero!
The Polotsk Cadet School not only remembers its graduate, now a renowned pilot who died a heroic death two years ago. Today, this 22-year-old young man, smiling cheerfully from a photograph, has become an ideal of courage and glory for hundreds of cadets. Saving the lives of civilians, he crashed in a military aircraft as part of the crew. He steered the malfunctioning Yak-130 away from the densely populated microdistricts of Baranovichi.
— A site for the installation of a memorial stele has already been prepared, — Stanislav Krasovsky points to a place in the center of the new cadet town. — The architectural exposition will be impressive: a bronze bas-relief of the hero, a stainless steel contrail, and the combat vehicle itself made of silumin, soaring into the sky. The hero flew away to where there is no return, but left a mark on the earth that will never be forgotten...
I am looking at the image on the poster… Very deep content, striking composition. The authors of the project are the Novopolotsk design workshop of ODO "Mastak-servis" and sculptor Alexander Dranets. It is interesting, what was the impetus for such an idea?
Alexander Dranets says: we worked on the project for several months. As a result, we settled on the option of a three-dimensional spatial solution. Taking into account the specifics of the location of the cadet town itself, the importance of the patriotic component, and the desire of the artists-creators to fully reveal the image of the hero, his character, courage, and determination.
— The working model is ready, it will soon be transferred to the sculpture factory. In a month, it will be possible to see not a reduced sample, but the finished full-size composition, — clarifies Alexander Alexandrovich.
Currently, a collection of money for the stele has been announced, reports Stanislav Krasovsky:
— And it's not at all about a lack of funds, as skeptics might think. This was also emphasized by the Chairman of the Council of the Republic, Natalya Kochanova, who recently visited the construction site.
It is significant that it was here that this pilot studied, who became an example for all patriots of the country. Therefore, all Belarusians should take part in the construction of the stele in his memory. It is a matter of honor to contribute to the common cause and thereby pay tribute to the hero for the lives saved, for which he undoubtedly sacrificed his own...
Forge of Military Valor
Almost everything is ready to receive the children at the school. New beds, wardrobes, and desks have already been installed in the dormitory building, and washing and drying machines are being installed in the utility rooms.— The conditions are very comfortable, — share their joy ninth-graders Nikolai Strekha and Alesya Mishchenkova, who are helping adults tidy up the dormitory. — By the way, don't forget to check out our sports complex and shooting range.
Well, we will take advantage of the offer. The sports complex is indeed magnificent. Beautiful, sunny, bright, and very spacious. There are halls for game and wrestling sports, and the gym is fully equipped. The school also has a brand-new canteen with the latest kitchen equipment, made in accordance with all modern sanitary and epidemiological standards, plus four dining rooms. The administrative building also impressed, which, among other things, has a choreography class, an assembly hall, and as many as three museum halls — with a gallery of famous graduates of the cadet corps, an exhibition on the history of cadet education during Tsarist Russia, a chronicle of the Polotsk Cadet Corps and the revival of cadet education in the Polotsk land as a whole. Among the exhibits, there is even a cannonball that got stuck in the wall of one of the buildings in 1812... Very interesting!
But the most unusual thing, as the young cadets promised, is, of course, the military training center. Along with the traditional shooting range, there is also an electronic one.Unique simulator — there are only a few like it in Belarus — is capable of creating a complete illusion of combat in various conditions. The cadets hear gunshots, feel the recoil of weapons, and will be able to learn to shoot from a pistol, assault rifle, sniper rifle, machine gun, and even a grenade launcher!
— Military knowledge will be very useful for our graduates, — emphasizes Stanislav Krasovsky. — Thanks to the new facility, the number of cadets will increase by 40 people in the current academic year, and next year we will add more — up to 300. This will be the largest school in the country. Negotiations are also underway with the Russian side on admitting young citizens of the fraternal state for training.
It is noteworthy that annually 88-92 percent of our cadets become students of military universities. Training grounds, airfields, border posts, units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Internal Affairs await them. So, thanks to this gift in the form of a new cadet town, future defenders of the Fatherland will grow up even smarter and stronger to ensure a peaceful life for peaceful people. May it be so...
IN FOCUS
Anyone can participate in the construction of the monument to the pilot hero Nikita Kukonenko by making a charitable donation to the settlement account BY40 AKBB 3642 32305024 2000 0000 in Belarusian rubles of JSC "ASB Belarusbank", Minsk BIC AKBBBY2X UNP 390 450 501.
Payment path through the "Расчет" (ERIP) system: payments and transfers — "Расчет" (ERIP) system — education and development — gymnasiums, lyceums, cadet schools — cadet schools — Polotsk Cadet School — board of trustees contributions. Then you need to enter your full name, your address, the educational institution. Purpose of payment: perpetuating the memory of Nikita Kukonenko.
"SB"