Caution: explosives

The current situation in our country is peaceful and calm; there are no shootings in the streets or bombings of houses and cars, as in some countries of the distant Middle East. However, the last war still lingers: although more than 70 years have passed since its end, it reminds us of itself with remnants of explosive metal, periodically emerging literally from the ground.  

Operational reports from the police practically weekly feature facts of the discovery of ammunition left over from the Great Patriotic War, which remained undiscovered until now.

In May alone this year, near the villages of Zamostochye, Sharki, and Simonovshchina in Vitebsk district, servicemen of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus discovered and neutralized 245 artillery shells, 8 hand grenades, and 51 mortar mines. Near the villages of Zagvazdino and Volkolakovo in Dubrovno district – 11 shells and 7 mines, near the village of Gvozdovo in Polotsk district – 33 hand grenades, near the village of Rublevo in Liozno district – 12 shells and 8 hand grenades.  

Other months of the current year were no less "fruitful." For example, in just two days in April, in Gorodok, Liozno, and Postavy districts, 235 artillery shells, 124 hand grenades, and 87 anti-personnel and mortar mines were discovered and neutralized. The total number of neutralized ammunition from the war years is counted in the

one hundred units.

Fortunately, this year we have no victims in our region from this deadly legacy of the war. Military sapper-pyrotechnic units of the internal troops acted promptly and professionally.

However, we would like to warn our citizens,  including thrill-seekers, "black diggers," and other adventurers: dealing with explosives is not only unnecessary and useless in peacetime but also a dangerous activity. Our land should be cleared of explosive ordnance from the last war by professionals, not amateurs: the former leave a clean land behind them, while the latter may remain in this land themselves.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Region
for Supervision of Legislation Enforcement
on State Security  V. Belous