By the way, there are several thousand of them at the heart of the celebration today!

The Head of the District, Mikhail Kiselevich, addressed his fellow countrymen: "The duty of those living today is to carefully preserve the memory of those terrible events and not to allow the tragedy to happen again. Our rally is an example of unity. It confirms our commitment to preserving historical memory for future generations. May this day be a symbol of gratitude and deep respect for the feat of our people."

A ceremonial march of servicemen, a demonstration performance by reconnaissance troops, a theatrical production by actors, creative performances by the children's art school and the district cultural center – all in Lepel in honour of the Great Victory!