22.02.2020
«This year Russia is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Victory,» Rector Alexander Bezborodov said in his welcoming remarks. — The state does a lot to properly celebrate this anniversary. Only 50,000 veterans who took part in the Great Patriotic War still remain with us. ... which makes this victory and each of its participants all the more valuable. Liberal arts universities bear great responsibility for the patriotic education of the younger generation. I am sure that together we will cope with this task. I want to sincerely thank you for your help and reliability in all matters. We really appreciate you and are proud that such wonderful people are part of our team».
Dr. Nadezhda Arkhipova, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, emphasized that for her generation, for the people whose fathers and grandfathers had fought in the War, this was a special holiday. That is why it is important to involve students in it, teaching them to distinguish falsification of history from reality.
Dr. Arkhipova wished the veterans good health and good luck at their combat posts at RSUH.«Some people think that March 8 and February 23 are gender-based holidays, but there are defenders of the Fatherland among women as well,» said Dr. Alexander Martynov, Vice-Rector for Administrative Work and Security. — Congratulations and thank you for your work! I can always rely on you, knowing that the military streak in you will not fail. Unfortunately, there are increasingly fewer veterans who could share their memories. But our strength is in truth. Therefore, it is necessary to educate young people who will continue the traditions of caring and selfless attitude to the Motherland.
Dr. Vera Zabotkina, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, said that she grew up in the family of a naval lawyer. «My father, grandfather, brother and nephew are all military officers. Russian officers have always treated women with respect. When my brother went to serve in the Mediterranean, he asked me to bring some books to the ship. I went to the messroom, and my brother said: „Gentlemen, we have a lady on board,“ and everyone stood up. I was shocked! Officers will always remain officers. Today, young people are rethinking their values, so your role is invaluable. In any dynamic, you will preserve the devotion to the homeland and pass it on to your children and grandchildren. We take a deep bow of appreciation of the fact that you continue to be faithful to your oath here, at RSUH. Happiness and health to you all! For you, for honor, for dignity!».
Dr. Irakly Bolkvadze, Vice-Rector for Social and Educational Work with Students, specifically noted the presence of Ms. Tatyana Kondrashova, administrator at the academic department of the 5th building, and moved to congratulate all the women who defend the fatherland. In turn, Ms. Valentina Marikhina, Chair of the Trade Union of Faculty and Staff, responded in kind to all the men. Mr. Grigory Shumsky, Chairman of the Council of Veterans of RSUH, joined in the congratulations.
The head of the Club of Creative People «Pegasus», member of the Board of the RPO «Veterans of Foreign Intelligence», retired lieutenant colonel Alexander Mudragey read a piece of poetry as a congratulation.
Mr. Mudragey presented Rector with a gift, an illustrated album «The NKVD of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.» In turn, Rector Bezborodov briefly talked about the work that RSUH was undertaking to preserve the memory of the Victory. In particular, the University took an active part in the preparation of the Victory Dictation campaign, which will be held April 24 throughout all Russia. RSUH also hosts the Family Archive program, in which students volunteers work with families to collect documents pertaining to World War II. In addition, RSUH has recently informed the State Duma of the ideas on amendments of the federal law on library preservation guidelines.
«New amendments to this law imply a clear legislative formulation of such a thing as memorial books,» said Rector. — This is the printed and handwritten information preserved in libraries and is to be stored there forever. Under the current law, this period stops with the end of the 18th century, and in some categories — with 1830. We thought that this was not historically fair, and the university made a proposal to also preserve a huge amount of information, the originals published from September 1, 1939 to September 2, 1945. It is these years that hold the greatest number of falsifications of historical facts in Europe. In the enslaved Europe, captured in three, four, eight days, there are few people who want to celebrate May 9 with the Russian Federation, especially when it regards the generation that does not remember anything. But in Russia this collection, especially in the newspaper and book format, published at that time, is huge. In our opinion, it should be preserved forever. It should not be reviewed based on the results of the examination of the value of documents. It should not sent to paper processing plants. It must be passed on to the younger generation and their children. "
To date, only one WWII veteran, Mr. Leonid Sidorin, has remained at RSUH. He worked as a 12-year-old boy on a collective farm when the war broke out. During the war he made sledges that were tied to lorries and used to transport the wounded across Lake Ladoga. «My two brothers went to the Baltic Fleet to defend the Fatherland, and served seven years each,» said the veteran. — And the third brother, the moment he graduated from high school, I saw him off to the front from the village, and he told me — Iwill not return. He fulfilled his duty, protected us all. And he didn’t come back. "
Mr. Mikhail Borzenko, an Afghanistan veteran, Assistant Professor at the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Head of Civil Defense and Emergencies at the Institute of Economics, Management and Law of RSUH, recently watched a program about the Black Storks, a sabotage and fighter detachment of Afghan mujahideen. «Once our battalion was returning from Kandahar and we were hit by shelling, the moment we went to sleep, they raised us ... a nearby company was fighting, they sent a radio signal requesting help, so we needed to bring them ammunition and fuel. I order my boys to line up and ask, who is with me? And the entire battalion takes a step forward. This is the question of patriotic education, what was then and what is now. Our task is to maintain continuity. Therefore, we have concluded an agreement with the DOSAAF. »
An cooperation agreement between RSUH and the
Army, Air Force and Navy Volunteer Society
of Russia was signed in 2019. Today, any student can engage in technical and military sports, obtain a driver’s license for vehicles of all categories, learn to parachute-jump, shoot, master weapon skills, pass the GTO requirements, join the field-search and archival activities to perpetuate the memory of the soldiers who died in defense of the Homeland.
After three hurray cheers the veterans were presented with Victory-related souvenirs.