The project program includes visits to 15 cities in Belarus and Russia. The double-decker train started its journey from Brest and arrived in the capital of our country on June 24. The first point on the route was memorial complex “Khatyn”. A sightseeing tour was organized for the project participants, during which they learned about the tragic fate of the village and honored the memory of 149 civilians who died, half of whom were children. The visit ended with the laying of flowers at the sculpture "Unconquered Man" and the Eternal Flame.
Khatyn is known around the world as a symbol of tragedy and memory. Belarusian participants of the Memory Train shared with children from other countries a deeper knowledge of what their land had gone through. Dima Orlov from Chechersk told how the Nazis burned 14 villages in his district and partially destroyed 84 more. Last year, a memorial sign dedicated to the lost settlements was unveiled in Chechersk, which has become the site of many memorial events.
Sofia Krivosheyeva from Mogilev, who had already been to Khatyn, again experienced strong emotions: "When you hear the ringing of the bell and see the huge cemetery of villages, tears come to your eyes. Recently I saw an interactive map where villages burned by the occupiers are marked with dots. Behind this scattering of dots, our Belarus is almost invisible."
Project participant Yulia Svistunova from Vytegra in Vologda region of Russia, located 1,150 kilometers from Khatyn, also shared her impressions. In her region, there were bloody battles on Oshta line, which played a significant role in disrupting the plans of the German command to create a second blockade ring around Leningrad. “We must not forget a single episode of the war, not a single life taken by the Nazis. The story of the boy who called for his mother at the last moment of his life shocked me the most. For me, these are especially painful stories of war - the loss of parents, the little lives taken, the brutally tortured civilians. We are given our whole lives to remember and honor them all,” said Yulia.
The project “Memory Train” continues its movement, uniting hearts and minds in memory of the Great Victory and reminding of the importance of preserving historical truth for future generations.
Photo: Kirill Stasko
