Donetsk, Nov 30 - DAN. Donbass will give a firm rebuff to the attempts to falsify the historic feat of the Russian people, Donetsk People’s Republic Head Denis Pushilin said at a forum on Tuesday which addressed prevention of the falsification of history.

“Today, we are confronting Ukraine not only in an open armed conflict but also in the fight for the hearts and minds of millions of Russian people,” Pushilin said. “An information and psychological war has been waged against our history and the memory of our heroes. They want to deprive us of our self-identity with barefaced lie. The Russian Donbass will firmly rebuff the attempts to compromise the unity of Russians.”

The Republic’s leadership works a lots to preserve the memory of the feat of the Russian people, he added.

“The DPR law prohibits the glorification of World War II traitors and turncoats. The law on perpetration of the Soviet people’s victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 cements the significance of the feat of the people in defending the Fatherland and provides legal protection of historical truth in our country. In 2021, the DPR amended Article 425 of the Republic’s Criminal Code and Article 124 of the DPR Code of Criminal Procedure, which are aimed at protecting the honor and dignity of WWII veterans,” Pushilin said.

The humanitarian program for the reunification of the Donbass People and support of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population helps the DPR leadership take care of WWII veterans who live in Kiev-held areas, he went on to say.

“We deem it our duty to support people who are discriminated again by Ukrainian authorities,” the DPR Head said. “I wish to quote Vladimir Putin: “historical memory is important to any people if it wants to endure and have a future.”

On Tuesday, the Donetsk local history museum hosted a forum on preventing the falsification of history. It was attended by the DPR Head, deputy head of the Republic’s government Vladimir Antonov, Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky, Russian Humanitarian mission Director General Sergey Shevchuk, Russian Centre executive director Yelena Yevseyeva, ministers, scientists and DPR activists. The Russian Centre opened “Russian House” in Donetsk as part of the cooperation agreement signed with the Russian Humanitarian Mission at the forum. *jk