The President Vadim Krasnoselsky, First President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Igor Smirnov, representatives of state authorities and administration, fellow soldiers and future defenders of the Fatherland came to pay homage to the living and honor the memory of the dead internationalist warriors.
Almost a third of a century ago, at dawn on February 15, after nine years, during which the war in Afghanistan continued the last battalion crossed the Soviet-Afghan border. the Soviet Union in that war lost 15 thousand people, 60 thousand were injured.
Thousands of Pridnestrovians walked through the difficult roads of the Afghan war. They told during the solemn events, that many of them were in the hands of the armed forces in 1992, came to the defense of the young Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The loss of Afghans was then 27 people.
According to the chairman of the Pridnestrovian association of military wars in Afghanistan, Igor Buga, after the end of the war in Afghanistan, there was a lot of debate about its necessity. “War can not be necessary or not. It is always evil. Afghan war was inevitable. Years later it became clear that without this war it was impossible. We have delayed the spread throughout the world of terrorism and drugs for a decade,” the head of the Association said.
Igor Buga stated that today the Afghan veterans face various difficulties, including the need for medical care and housing. “We have always felt the support of the state. Afghan veterans have been and remain patriots and are paying serious attention to the patriotic education of young people. That is why several years ago the movement “Heirs of Victories” was created, which today has acquired republican status,” said Igor Buga.
Addressing the Afghan veterans, their families and friends, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the Afghan war left a mark on his family, “I remember December 1979. I remember very well how in the second half of December my father Krasnoselsky Nikolai Vasilyevich with pontoon regiment of the city of Bendery was sent to Afghanistan. Then no one had any questions - why? what for? and who sends? There was no such question. Questions appeared later, after collapse of the Soviet Union.
Answering the appropriateness of the Afghan war, history of this land should be recalled. In the 19th century the Great Britain, the Soviet Union, later the United States of America. Why so? Because geopolitics is a big responsibility and big tasks for the protection of their interests. No wonder, probably, Afghanistan is called a cemetery of empires. Such persons as Gorbachev, Shevardnadze began to abandon their duties to protect the geopolitical interests of state. Then they began to ask the question: why? Now it is clear that the warrior of internationalist went to Afghanistan not with the war, but with the peace. It was the Soviet people who built the infrastructure: schools, hospitals, roads. They struggled against terrorism and drug trafficking. If not Soviet soldiers, NATO soldier or ISIS would have been there before.
Today, Russia, once again realizing its role as a geopolitical power, performs international duty in Syria, defending the interests of the Russian Federation. You, dear internationalists have begun what Russia continues today. One is bad. Behind such large-scale categories as geopolitics there are people, fate of people. The Afghan war divided the time between “before” and “after”. It divided into those who came and who stayed. It divided it into those who are still waiting for their children to go home,” said the President. He wished the Afghan veterans health, well-being and peace.
On the eve of the memorable date, the Unions of war veterans in the Slobodzeia and Rybnitsa districts were awarded the Order of Honor. Today, a number of soldiers-internationalists received state awards from the hands of the President.