Posted:
09.07.2024 10:15:02
‘The winners bequeathed to us to live and build a future for new generations. We will not let them down’
On July 3rd, Belarus held large-scale celebrations to mark Independence Day and the 80th anniversary of liberation from Nazi invaders. Festive events took place in all regions of the country. The parade in Minsk was one of the central events. It featured more than 5,000 military personnel, as well as over 300 units of wheeled and tracked vehicles as part of the mechanised column. The pilots demonstrated spectacular aerobatics. Forty-seven items of modern combat aircraft of the Belarusian and Russian Air Forces flew over the hero city of Minsk.
The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, addressed important words to all Belarusians. The Head of State reminded that the last battles for the capital city of Belarus fell silent exactly 80 years ago, on July 3rd, 1944. “Those volleys still echo in our historic memory. We know that we should do everything to carry this memory through centuries. It is full of pain and suffering, patience and courage, heroic deeds, and the triumph of justice. It contains hundreds of thousands of names of heroes. It contains the strength of the nation of descendants of the winners,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The President stressed that the future of many nations was decided in the Belarusian land back then. “Fascists, who had been recruited from entire Europe, and warriors of the great multiethnic Red Army, clashed in that fateful battle. Head-on. It was a battle for freedom and the future of our nation, for freedom and the future of the nations on the entire continent. It was a confident step towards the Great Victory. As we celebrate Independence Day on July 3rd, we pay tribute to the memory of Soviet soldiers, who fought to the bitter end in the Brest Fortress, outside Minsk and Mogilev, Polotsk and Gomel, Orsha and Bykhov. At other countless big and small military lines on the way to the capital city of our Motherland — Moscow,” the Belarusian leader said.
“We admire the will power of Soviet women, the elderly and kids, who fought on par with men and worked at the homefront in order to provide for the front troops. We bow to the cherished memory of civilian victims and fallen heroes. Those are millions of people — a terrible price for our freedom and independence,” the Head of State noted. “We admire great military leaders Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky as well as our fellow countryman, Army General Antonov, who was the main developer of the strategic offensive operation Bagration. The operation’s entire progress from the concept and preparations in unprecedented secrecy and to the active phase is an example of high military art and one of the most heroic pages of the Great Patriotic War.”
The President stressed that the future of many nations was decided in the Belarusian land back then. “Fascists, who had been recruited from entire Europe, and warriors of the great multiethnic Red Army, clashed in that fateful battle. Head-on. It was a battle for freedom and the future of our nation, for freedom and the future of the nations on the entire continent. It was a confident step towards the Great Victory. As we celebrate Independence Day on July 3rd, we pay tribute to the memory of Soviet soldiers, who fought to the bitter end in the Brest Fortress, outside Minsk and Mogilev, Polotsk and Gomel, Orsha and Bykhov. At other countless big and small military lines on the way to the capital city of our Motherland — Moscow,” the Belarusian leader said.
“We admire the will power of Soviet women, the elderly and kids, who fought on par with men and worked at the homefront in order to provide for the front troops. We bow to the cherished memory of civilian victims and fallen heroes. Those are millions of people — a terrible price for our freedom and independence,” the Head of State noted. “We admire great military leaders Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky as well as our fellow countryman, Army General Antonov, who was the main developer of the strategic offensive operation Bagration. The operation’s entire progress from the concept and preparations in unprecedented secrecy and to the active phase is an example of high military art and one of the most heroic pages of the Great Patriotic War.”
“The memory of our heroes lives in every Belarusian city and village, being passed down from generation to generation, from heart to heart, connecting all of us with a living thread of love and loyalty to the Fatherland. This parade is a parade in their honour,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
Solemn parade in honour of Independence Day in Minsk, Belarus 
Tracked vehicles as part of the mechanised column during the parade
Solemn formation of soldiers from a friendly country during the Independence Day parade in Minsk
The Head of State highlighted the fact that along with Belarusian servicemen, their comrades from the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were passing along Pobediteley Avenue on that day. “We all have learnt the main lesson from the Great Patriotic War — Nazism is an absolute evil. There is no justification and no forgiveness for the crimes of the Nazis. Not then, not now, not in the future!” the President emphasised.
The Head of State pointed out that these words are addressed to those who sow enmity again, throwing its seeds on our lands, who are ready to drag their peoples into a new bloodbath. “Those in the high offices in Washington calculate the benefits by selling weapons and driving the Ukrainian people into poverty, moving towards their main goal. It has not changed for centuries, though the information guides are being improved,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The President drew attention to some historical parallels, “At the beginning of the last century, the Slavs were accused of not being able to properly manage their natural resources and territories, which for some reason should belong to the entire world community. Now we supposedly have the ‘wrong’ democracy. At that time, the role of the ‘teacher’ was assumed by Hitler’s Germany. Today, the entire European Union, led by the United States, is trying to ‘teach’ us.”
“We know the true goals, we know who is behind every provocation on the state border of Belarus, behind every terrorist threat to the civilian population. We know because we are working proactively, we are more vigilant than ever. We have learnt all the lessons of the Great Patriotic War. We have only one teacher — our history of winners. Therefore, today we will also walk the path of pride on the ground and across the sky for the true heirs of the Great Patriotic War heroes, those who put on military uniform at such a dangerous time. We will walk in the name of peace,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
Belarus strengthens and develops its Armed Forces and improves the military organisation of the state for the sake of peace, the President added. “Our people should know and see that everything and even more is being done so that the army, as well as the territorial defence forces and the people’s militia, are ready to defend the country,” the Commander-in-Chief said. “And you know that they are ready! We talk a lot about weapons, armaments, ammunition, but the main asset is our people. As soon as they felt the aggravation of the situation on our southern borders, military enlistment offices and units, our military and generals immediately received thousands of calls from ordinary people, asking to take them into the army and give them weapons in order to defend their Homeland. No need. Work quietly. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We, people in uniform, are able today to protect our country and prevent any provocation on its state borders.”
The President drew attention to some historical parallels, “At the beginning of the last century, the Slavs were accused of not being able to properly manage their natural resources and territories, which for some reason should belong to the entire world community. Now we supposedly have the ‘wrong’ democracy. At that time, the role of the ‘teacher’ was assumed by Hitler’s Germany. Today, the entire European Union, led by the United States, is trying to ‘teach’ us.”
“We know the true goals, we know who is behind every provocation on the state border of Belarus, behind every terrorist threat to the civilian population. We know because we are working proactively, we are more vigilant than ever. We have learnt all the lessons of the Great Patriotic War. We have only one teacher — our history of winners. Therefore, today we will also walk the path of pride on the ground and across the sky for the true heirs of the Great Patriotic War heroes, those who put on military uniform at such a dangerous time. We will walk in the name of peace,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
Belarus strengthens and develops its Armed Forces and improves the military organisation of the state for the sake of peace, the President added. “Our people should know and see that everything and even more is being done so that the army, as well as the territorial defence forces and the people’s militia, are ready to defend the country,” the Commander-in-Chief said. “And you know that they are ready! We talk a lot about weapons, armaments, ammunition, but the main asset is our people. As soon as they felt the aggravation of the situation on our southern borders, military enlistment offices and units, our military and generals immediately received thousands of calls from ordinary people, asking to take them into the army and give them weapons in order to defend their Homeland. No need. Work quietly. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We, people in uniform, are able today to protect our country and prevent any provocation on its state borders.”
Independence Day parade on July 3rd, Minsk
War veterans during the solemn parade in Minsk
Aleksandr Lukashenko repeated that people are our main asset, “These are soldiers and officers — heroes of our time — who are already demonstrating courage and fortitude. Our parade is a recognition of the professionalism and dedication to duty of the military, border guards, fighters and special services officers who do everything to prevent provocations from unfriendly countries from escalating into a full-scale military conflict.”
According to the Head of State, less than 5 percent of representatives of Belarus’ Armed Forces are taking part in today’s parade; all the rest are at a combat post.“ We are immensely grateful to them. We know how difficult it is. However, no one else will complete this task. That is what we are designed for. The Belarusian people nurtured us to do our job properly,” the Belarusian leader stressed. Aleksandr Lukashenko particularly underlined that the parade shows the strength of Belarus-Russia Union State strategic partnership, interaction with the CSTO member states, and military co-operation with the People’s Republic of China. “This is a sign of our readiness to stand in line today to protect historical memory, values, and our sovereignties,” the Head of State accentuated.
The President stressed that we are all united by the Great Victory over the common enemy — the countries of the Hitler alliance. “It teaches us to protect the world by any means of deterrence. The inspection of the joint regional group of Belarus’ and Russia’s troops, the first training of non-strategic nuclear forces for our country showed that the level of defence capability of our Union State is as high as ever. This guarantees that our voice — the voice of our allies and partners in defence of a multipolar and just world — will be heard. Our parade will lead to a peaceful future. This is our goal. Therefore, young people are in the same formation with the defenders of the Fatherland, and next to military hardware is the equipment for peaceful life. The winners bequeathed to us to live and build a future for new generations. We will not let them down. We have no right!” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
According to the Head of State, less than 5 percent of representatives of Belarus’ Armed Forces are taking part in today’s parade; all the rest are at a combat post.“ We are immensely grateful to them. We know how difficult it is. However, no one else will complete this task. That is what we are designed for. The Belarusian people nurtured us to do our job properly,” the Belarusian leader stressed. Aleksandr Lukashenko particularly underlined that the parade shows the strength of Belarus-Russia Union State strategic partnership, interaction with the CSTO member states, and military co-operation with the People’s Republic of China. “This is a sign of our readiness to stand in line today to protect historical memory, values, and our sovereignties,” the Head of State accentuated.
The President stressed that we are all united by the Great Victory over the common enemy — the countries of the Hitler alliance. “It teaches us to protect the world by any means of deterrence. The inspection of the joint regional group of Belarus’ and Russia’s troops, the first training of non-strategic nuclear forces for our country showed that the level of defence capability of our Union State is as high as ever. This guarantees that our voice — the voice of our allies and partners in defence of a multipolar and just world — will be heard. Our parade will lead to a peaceful future. This is our goal. Therefore, young people are in the same formation with the defenders of the Fatherland, and next to military hardware is the equipment for peaceful life. The winners bequeathed to us to live and build a future for new generations. We will not let them down. We have no right!” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
