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Afghan warriors have honorably fulfilled their duty and are now taking the baton from the veterans of the Great Patriotic War in educating the younger generation.

This was stated at a meeting with internationalist soldiers, which took place in Vitebsk on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, reports BELTA correspondent.

The head of the region spoke with representatives of district veteran organizations to learn about local problems and needs. Afghans from Gluboksky district asked for assistance in allocating a vehicle for a serviceman who became disabled after his international service. Similar assistance was provided in similar cases in other regions at one time. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee noted that he would work on this issue and try to involve healthcare institutions, as it is important for an Afghan veteran to have a means of mobile transportation. Alexander Subbotin was also asked for assistance in repairing roads in rural areas of Shumilinsky district. The head of the region took the issue under control. A festive concert for internationalist soldiers was held at the Vitebsk Philharmonic Hall. At the event, they were presented with well-deserved awards from the Regional Executive Committee, the Regional Council of Deputies, and public organizations. Among the awardees was Vladimir Smolko, a resident of Vitebsk district. For him, both today's celebration and the upcoming significant date are particularly moving.

"For every internationalist soldier, the anniversary of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a real holiday, because it is the day when our comrades were able to return home, see their families. My combat brothers and I always celebrate this day, remembering those with whom we fought side by side and who did not return," shared the veteran. In Afghanistan, as part of the Vitebsk airborne brigade, he guarded the airfield for two years and four months. The times were hot, and they had to fight back against the dushmans. Vladimir Smolko noted that he would not wish such trials on anyone, and therefore he is glad to live in a peaceful country.

"These guys honorably fulfilled their duty. A portion of the guys from the Vitebsk region, numbering 152 people, remained on that land. It is always appropriate to thank them. It was so, it is so, and it will continue to be so. These are our heroes, people who defended us so that we could live normally. This is the strong core that can always be relied upon. We count on them very much, from educational matters to support in mass events," noted Alexander Subbotin, emphasizing that the internationalist soldiers are taking over the torch of remembrance of our ancestors' feats from the veterans of the Great Patriotic War, of whom fewer and fewer remain alive each year.

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