Athletes and coaches, on a tour of the complex and museum, learned about the tragic history of the burned Belarusian villages and the horrors of the genocide committed by the Nazis. A wreath and flowers were laid at the foot of the monument, and a minute of silence was declared at the Eternal Flame in memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War.

Viktor Maigurov, head of the Russian Biathlon Union, noted:

"I think this is a very significant place for both Belarus and Russia. I was here for the first time about 40 years ago. Naturally, a lot has changed. We must say a big thank you to the management of Belarus for preserving and increasing the memory that everyone needs to know."

Eduard Latypov, Olympic biathlon bronze medalist, stressed the importance of passing on memory to future generations:

"Our task is to carry this memory throughout our lives and pass on to our children the feat of our people, pass it on to our generation. Since I am a father, I must tell my children and explain what it is, so that they too understand it and pass it on to their children. And thanks to such events and the way of life of a person, I think the memory will live long."

The times of the Great Patriotic War still echo with pain in the hearts of those living today. The genocide of the people, the terrible fragments of the memories of the survivors make us shudder. And it is more important than ever for us to remember this.

On behalf of memorial complex “Khatyn”, we express our gratitude to the Russian Biathlon Team for their visit and respectful attitude towards historical memory. Your participation and attention to this tragedy help preserve the memory of those terrible events and pass it on to future generations.