In the Vitebsk region, the remains of 108 Red Army soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War have been reburied.

At military burial site No. 8013, located in the village of Noviki, Shpachechinsky village council, Vitebsk district, the remains of 108 Red Army soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War have been reburied.

In 1944, this area became the scene of fierce battles. The 26th and 43rd Guards Tank Brigades, the 215th, 173rd, and 371st Rifle Divisions, and the 735th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment conducted offensive operations here.

This spring, servicemen of the 52nd Separate Specialized Search Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, together with the Moscow Regional Public Organisation "Charitable Military-Historical Search Club 'Memory and Reconciliation'," participated in field search operations at the bridgehead site. The head of the latter, Valery Zagrekov, reported that searchers have been working in Noviki for three years, having already reburied many heroes, but it remains unknown how many more nameless soldiers lie in the Vitebsk soil.

Representatives of the public association "Vitebsk Regional Historical and Patriotic Search Club 'Plamya'," students of the Polotsk Cadet School, and cadets from Moscow School No. 760 named after A. Maresev also assisted in exhuming the remains of the servicemen.

– It is very important that the defenders of our Motherland are laid to rest even 78 years after their death, – noted Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, emphasizing the importance of involving young people in the work of perpetuating the memory of fallen heroes. – We say thank you to these soldiers for living under a clear sky, in a free country, for having the right to speak our native language, and to build the future for our children.

Unfortunately, the names of the deceased have not been identified. Among the items found during the excavations were fragments of weapons, items from the Great Patriotic War era, and one opened military identification tag, which underwent examination. However, it was not possible to read the semi-decayed note.

According to Viktor Dorozhkin, Chairman of the Vitebsk District Council of Deputies, every military burial site in the district is registered, and patronage is provided not only by local residents but also by representatives of public organisations, institutions, and enterprises. Viktor Vasilyevich presented letters of gratitude to the young patriotic searchers who participated in the search expedition and thanked them for their dedication.

The rally participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen. A salute was fired during the burial of the remains of the Fatherland defenders, and wreaths and flowers were laid at the mass grave.

In burial site No. 8013, 125 unknown soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War found a common resting place. In 2020, the remains of 42 servicemen were interred here, and in 2021, 83 were interred. Their names have not been identified. In total, in 2022, the remains of 138 Red Army servicemen who died during the Great Patriotic War were exhumed in Vitebsk District. From August 2 to 11, search operations are being conducted in the territory of Zaronevsky Village Council.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by