Nine enthusiasts from the Pavlodar search and research detachment "Maidan Zholy" from Kazakhstan, led by Alexander Shitov, discovered them during excavations near the village of Ponizovye. Unfortunately, there were very few tangible clues at the discovery site to establish the names of the fallen. Only three identification tags were found, but the inscriptions on them could not be deciphered due to their poor condition. Speaking at the rally, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev, emphasized:
– It has become a tradition at the state level, under the auspices of our Head of State, to conduct search operations annually and, according to Christian custom, to lay to rest the fallen soldiers. And today, 18 soldiers, who were found here, who defended our Motherland, fought for its liberation, will be laid to rest. In this military cemetery, where 106 soldiers and officers of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army are already interred. It is important that everyone – both state bodies, public organizations, and ordinary citizens – is engaged in this sacred cause together today. And everyone understands: this is our duty to the fallen. They gave their lives so that we can live in a free country today and not know what war is. Thank you to everyone who came here today, and to everyone who is engaged in this meticulous search work.
Teachers and students of the local school, as part of the International "Garden of Memory" campaign, planted an Alley of Memory here – 18 young birch and oak saplings.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by