Smolensk commemorated the Russians who fulfilled their duty outside the Homeland

In the Soldiers-Internationalists Memorial Park in Smolensk there was a ceremony held to mark the Memorial Day of the Russians who fulfilled their duty outside the Homeland and the 25th anniversary of the Soviet troops withdrawal from Afghanistan.

This day was established by the Order of the President of Russia of December 2, 2010 and coincides with the day of the Soviet troops withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.

The event was attended by the heads of the executive authorities of the region, the representatives of the Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans and other veterans' public organizations, soldiers-internationalists, widows and mothers of those who was killed in Afghanistan, the clergy representatives, the soldiers of the Smolensk military garrison, the residents of the city and the region, cadets, students and schoolchildren.

All the speakers at the meeting noted that the soldiers and officers, veterans fulfilled their internationalist duty with honor, showing the world the best qualities of the Russian soldiers: love for the country, loyalty to the oath, courage and stamina.

The soldiers-internationalists were carrying out the tasks in the toughest combat conditions, supporting each other often at the price of their own lives. And today, they try to be in the ranks, to serve Russia. Their proactivity aimed at commemorating those who were killed, and patriotic education of the younger generations deserves the greatest respect.

The Administration of the region actively cooperates with all the public organizations uniting the veterans and the disabled of the local wars, provides help and support. The public organizations operating in the region don’t only unite the veterans and the disabled of the war in Afghanistan and other countries, members of the families of the killed defenders of the Homeland, but also perform a very important function of mutual aid and solidarity. They all provide real help to the bereaved families and veterans of the military operations.

Establishing at the state level the Memorial Day for the Russians who fulfilled their duty outside the Homeland emphasizes the recognition of our soldiers’ merits, honorably fulfilling their internationalist duty in Afghanistan and other hot spots, where our country had and still has strategic interests.

After the memorial service the audience took a minute of silence, laid wreaths and flowers at the monument to the soldiers-internationalists.