The meeting in honor of the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was held in Kazan

The laying flowers at the Eternal Flame was held at the Pobedy Park.

(KZN.RU, February 15, Ksenia Shvetsova). Today, a solemn meeting was held in Kazan Pobedy Park in honor of the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of a limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. It was attended by soldiers and officers who performed their military duty, representatives of public veteran organizations of the republic, ministries and departments, students of educational institutions, as well as relatives and friends of the victims.

Leila Fazleeva, the deputy prime minister of the RT, Ivan Egorov, the chairman of the Coordination Council of the Cabinet of Ministers of the RT on issues of war veterans, Rustem Gafarov, the first deputy head of the Executive Committee, Rustem Valiullov, the first deputy minister of Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the RT, and many others also attended the event.

Since 2011, Russia officially celebrates the anniversary of the end of the withdrawal of a limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan on February 15. In this day 30 years ago, the last column of Soviet soldiers crossed the border and returned to their homeland.

“This is a special date for all residents of the country, the day of glory, the memory of those people who paid tribute to the officer’s duty”, Leila Fazleeva addressed the audience. “Dear friends, participants of the war! Today, the whole country remembers your feat and the feat of those who did not return from the battlefield with great respect.

You are in the ranks today, taking part in the formation of the patriotic education of our youth. Thank you for having demonstrated by your example the strength of a military spirit, masculinity, and teaching us so many human qualities”.

Kirill Kulakov, the head of the Higher Military Command Red Banner School, also turned to the war veterans for congratulations. He supported L. Fazleeva and also noted that the example of masculinity and resilience of the participants in the Afghan war is a huge contribution to the education of the younger generation. “Today we are not only in the ranks of the armed forces and public organizations. We are celebrating the holiday throughout Russia. I want to thank good veterans. The younger generation takes after you!”, said K. Kulakov.

More than 2 thousand soldiers and officers from Kazan took part in the military operations during the years of the Afghan war. 34 people were killed, 108 ones injured. 275 Kazan citizens were awarded the medals “For Courage” and “Military Merit”, and 93 received the Order of the “Red Star”.

Valery Mironchenko, the head of the Kazan Suvorov Military School, presented to the audience two young students, Ivan and Nikita, who take part in the meeting each year. “Years will pass, they will become officers, but they will always remember you, dear veterans. War is such a thing: we were told to perform, we did. It was our common duty”, he said. “I would like to appeal with gratitude to the drivers who were transporting materiel, ammunition in columns, risking their lives. Thanks to our pilots, because not a single operation was complete without helicopters. Sappers, who are often forgotten, and who helped us pass through minefields. And thanks to the rest. Every participant in those events deserves honors”.

He also noted that the new monument, which will soon be installed in the park, will perpetuate the feat of the Afghan soldiers. The decision to transfer the monument to the territory of the Pobedy Park and its expansion arose after the appeal of the Afghan soldiers. Now the work on the discussion and approval of the sketch of the new monument to the soldiers-internationalists is conducted by a special commission, which included representatives of the soldiers-internationalists, the Ministry of Culture of the RT and the Kazan Executive Committee.

One of the most difficult and touching moments of the holiday was the speech of Galina Epshanova, the mother of the deceased soldier. “30 years is nothing for the Universe. And for a person, it is a very long period of life. During this time, you had to stand in this life, survive, raise your children and grandchildren”, she said. “On February 15, 1989, children were born that today celebrate their 30th anniversary. If it was not for your feat, they would not have a happy childhood. Mothers, fathers, widows, sons of the dead, I wish you to withstand all the hardships, live a happy life worthy of the feat of our children”.

The words that the memory of the dead will remain forever confirmed in a speech by Samat Zakirova, a young cadet of the Kazan Higher Tank Command and Red Banner School. “The war that lasted more than 9 years with more than 700 of our servicemen participated, ended in 1989. Russia lost over 14 thousand soldiers and officers in it. We share the pain of loss with those who have lost their loved ones, and we will forever honor their courage and heroism”, he said. After these words, a minute of silence was announced, and then those gathered laid flowers at the Eternal Flame.

Residents of Udomlya, Tver Oblast, were among those who left red carnations near a burning flame. “We had to come here today, this is such a holiday that responds in the soul of every Russian. There are cadets of the EMERCOM and the Ministry of Internal Affairs among us, boys who have served their country since childhood. It was very important for us that they also took part in the meeting”, said Tatiana Maksimova, who arrived in Kazan a couple of days ago.

In conclusion, all the participants of the meeting could get themselves warm with hot tea and taste the army porridge cooked in the military field kitchen.

The festive events dedicated to the anniversary will not end at this. On February 16, a concert will be held at the cultural center “Moskovsky”, and there will be a gala evening and the presentation of republican awards at the “Pyramid” on February 19.