Donetsk, Sep 27 — DAN. One hundred and twenty-nine students of the Donetsk Fire Service Institute of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) have taken a loyalty oath, the EMERCOM press service reported on Wednesday.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Alexey Kostrubintsky, head of the EMERCOM Department for the Donetsk People’s Republic.

 “You’ve pledged to serve the Great Russia faithfully and honestly, and fulfil the tasks facing our heroic Ministry, ” the press service quoted Kostrubitsky as saying. “Serving Russia, Serving the people! — I want you to understand these words in your heart and honor them.”

A priest performed the rite of sprinkling the students with holy water. The firemen then observed a minute of silence in memory of the DPR rescuers who died in the line of duty. A solemn march took place at the end of the ceremony and the institute’s hymn was played.*jk