The 64th traditional meeting at the Mound of Friendship was held under the motto "Preserved by Memory".

Under the motto "Preserved by Memory," the traditional meeting at the Mound of Friendship took place. Next year will mark the юбилей 65th meeting, which will be prepared by our country.

For the 64th time, people gather at this site, symbolizing the combat fraternity of partisans and underground fighters of various nations, at the junction of the borders of Russia, Belarus, and Latvia, to pay tribute to the defenders of the Fatherland. In the local forests, north of Lake Osvy, near the villages of Proshki and Gavrilino, the Proshki International Youth Underground emerged and operated from the first days of the German occupation. In 1959, a memorial uniting three countries was created. In its center stood a man-made hill, on top of which an oak tree was planted. From the mound, an alley of birch trees was planted towards Belarus, an alley of linden trees towards Latvia, and an alley of maple trees towards Russia.

Today, the linden alley is overgrown with weeds, and memory is fading. The mound, which is now located within the European Union, is fenced off with barbed wire. The bridge, across which veterans used to cross to their brothers-in-arms in former times, has also been dismantled. To preserve these cherished symbols, a granite monumental sign for the mound and a monument-oak tree with leaves in the colours of the state flags of the two countries have been erected on the border of Russia and Belarus.

– We share a common heroic history, an equally heroic present, and, I believe, the greatest and brightest future. The foundation of such events is our common victory and the unity of peoples; they unite us and make us stronger. The meeting at this sacred place gives us an opportunity to visit each other once again, to embrace, to understand that we are kindred spirits and that we are one big family, – emphasized the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin.

His Russian counterpart, the Governor of the Pskov Region, Mikhail Vedernikov, noted that the youth are now at the forefront of the relay of memory.

– Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer veterans. Our heroes are passing away, and those who are still alive, due to their age, cannot participate in such events. Therefore, we conceived of changing the concept of the meeting several years ago. Who else but the youth should take over the relay from the veterans, study our common history, the history of the Great Patriotic War, our Victory, – said Mikhail Vedernikov.

The Belarusian-Russian youth educational and patriotic camp "Kurgan-2023" gathered over 300 participants. It operated for several days, during which various patriotic, educational, and sports projects were implemented. Young people held the intellectual tournament "Flowers of the Great Victory," the military-sports game "Northern Region," the "I Know Belarus" spils-map assembly championship, and took part in events at the Kurgan Druzhby (Friendship Mound).

The camp has acquired its own anthem. Russians decided to adopt the Belarusian experience and also gather youth in a patriotic camp, which opened these days near Sebezh, bringing together teenagers aged 14-18. Both camps met at the Kurgan Druzhby.

Traditionally, the official part of the meeting, which was conducted by the Russian side this year, began with a procession and laying wreaths and flowers at the monuments to Maria Pyntho, Secretary of the Sebezh District Komsomol Committee and partisan scout, located in Russia, and to the Komsomol underground fighters of the village of Proshki, Verkhnedvinsk District. The column was led by the heads of the two regions and the chairmen of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev, and the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies, Alexander Kotov. Heads of all districts of the Vitebsk region and the border regions of Russia, deputies, representatives of public organizations, and youth marched shoulder to shoulder.

A prayer service was held in the chapel of Sergius of Radonezh, erected in memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War. Afterwards, everyone gathered near the stage, where creative groups performed.

"Katyusha" became the song symbol of the meeting at the Kurgan, performed as a choir by all who came to this sacred place. In conclusion, the traditional bonfire was lit, which warmed our grandfathers and great-grandfathers in the distant war years.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by