Inauguration ceremony for Mogilev Region Glory Museum

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko attended the inauguration ceremony for the Mogilev Region Glory Museum

The Head of State studied the museum’s exposition, talked to representatives of labour collectives, the public and the youth of Mogilev and Mogilev District

Exposition of Mogilev Region Glory Museum reflects not only glorious military past, but also history of entire region, 
main stages of its development and achievements

“Exactly thirty years have passed since we opened the memorial complex here on the Buinichi Field to commemorate the heroic feat of the Mogilev defenders. It was here that one of the most heroic chapters of the Great Patriotic War was written. Here, on the Dnieper line, the countdown to the collapse of the Third Reich began. These battles largely influenced the outcome of the Battle of Moscow and the wider war, and are comparable to the battles of Kulikovo, Borodino and Prokhorovka,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasised that the fighting on the Buinichi Field lasted about a month. It played a crucial role in delaying the German advance on Moscow that lay through Mogilev and Smolensk. One of the most striking episodes of the fierce Battle of Mogilev was the defence of this territory by the 388th rifle regiment under the command of Colonel Kutepov. This had a huge impact on the outcome of the battle for the Soviet capital. “Our command and the country’s leadership understood: it is necessary to hold off the enemy here as long as possible at all costs in order to buy time to prepare for the defence [of Moscow]. This is why these battles near Mogilev and Smolensk were so consequential,” the Belarusian leader noted.
The thousand-year history of the region is brought to life in the halls of the museum, while the voices of historical figures resonating within its walls make the past tangible for visitors, the Head of State said. “The exposition explores the lives of the Radimichi tribe, from whom the history of the region began, and not only the region. Mogilev has always been a bridge between the West and the East in peacetime and a bulwark in the times of trials. These lands saw numerous battles of the armies of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the kings of Poland, and the tzars of Russia,” the President said.
According to the Head of State, the regional history acts as a microcosm of the larger national history, and the museum’s exposition depicts the thorny and centuries-long path of Belarusians to independence and statehood, and connects the heroic past with the peaceful present.
The museum dedicates significant attention to the events of the Great Patriotic War. 

“And this is right. Especially now, when the truth about that war is being viciously challenged in ‘enlightened’ Europe: Nazis are marching, memorials and monuments are being demolished, and history is being rewritten hypocritically. That is why we sacredly honour the memory of the war veterans, of the people who rebuilt the towns and villages of Mogilev Region after the liberation and came to exemplify excellence and dedication to work,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.

Mogilev Region Glory Museum embodies memory of heroic deed of Soviet people during Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945

The President recalled that the Soviet Union lost about 30 million people in the Great Patriotic War. In order to prevent such things from happening again, it is important to remember the lessons of history. This is one of the reasons why such facilities are built. “This is not because we have nothing to do or nothing more to build. We want you to come here. There is still a generation of Soviet people who honour the memory of the Great Patriotic War. And these people can pass on this experience to the youth, so that young people understand why we do this,” the President stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus had largely retained the approaches to this work from Soviet times. “In essence, we are doing everything right. This must be preserved. When it comes to the form of work, we will think about how to diversify it. But we should not discard it. After abandoning our traditions, principles and morals, we destroyed a great country. And today, each of them [former Soviet republics] is muddling along on their own. Except for Belarus and Russia that finally took a step toward this unity. Do not think that the former Soviet republics are eager to follow in our footsteps. A huge gap arose between us and them after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But we are fighting. We are showing the way forward by our example. We are trying to become an economic magnet for them, to bring them closer to us. Because these are our peoples, Soviet peoples. They also participated in this war and won together with us,” the Head of State noted. 

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by

Photos by Aleksandr Kulevsky