Vitebsk hosted the participants of the automobile and motorcycle rally “On Guard of the Memory of the Great Feat!”
The leadership of the regional executive committee, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Internal Affairs, veterans, cadets, and students of military-patriotic classes met the participants of the commemorative event at the memorial complex in honor of the Soviet soldiers-liberators, partisans, and underground fighters of the Vitebsk region.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Lieutenant-General of Militia Ivan Kubrakov, noted that the Vitebsk region made an invaluable contribution to the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. More than 700 militiamen from the northern region heroically repelled enemy attacks, fighting in the regular army, in partisan detachments, and operational groups.
– A heroic page in the history of the Vitebsk militia was written by the police regiment under the command of Alexander Radyuk, which destroyed 50 enemy armored vehicles. The name of police captain Viktor Landychenko will also be forever recorded in the annals. For successfully conducted reconnaissance operations and participation in battles for the liberation of Polotsk and the Baltic Republics, he was awarded the Orders of Glory of all degrees. Many soldiers did not live to see the Great Victory. They proved their loyalty to the oath taken at a very high price, the price of their own lives, – emphasized Ivan Kubrakov. – The Vitebsk land is indeed abundantly washed with the blood of soldiers who liberated our country from the Nazi invaders. The purpose of our auto-moto rally is to pass this memory on to the younger generations. And as long as our children, patriotic clubs, and cadets come to such memorials, it will be impossible to forget the history and heroes of the Great Patriotic War. We will do everything to ensure peace and security in our native land.
Chairman of the regional executive committee Alexander Subbotin emphasized that he was pleased to welcome the participants of the auto-moto rally on the holiday of labor on the heroic Vitebsk land.
– 80 years ago, the last page of the bloodiest war in human history was turned. But no matter how much time passes, we will never forget the feat of our fathers and grandfathers who defended the freedom and independence of our Motherland with their blood. We recall the victorious spring of 1945 with joy and pride, but at the same time, the pain and suffering brought by the war echo in everyone's heart, – said Alexander Subbotin. – Vitebsk region, from the first days of occupation, became one of the centers of the great battle and lost every third resident during the war years. The brilliance of combat orders and medals will never fade, the eternal flame at the mass graves will not go out, and the names of the defenders of our Fatherland will forever remain in the hearts of the heirs of Victory. Today, we continue their glorious deeds. May Victory Day forever remain a source of pride for the victors.
The participants of the event honored the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the memorial.
Tomorrow they will visit the Khatyn Memorial Complex, the Mound of Glory in Grodno, and the final point of the two-day route will be the Brest Hero-Fortress.
