Donetsk, Sep 8 - DAN. Donbass will always honor the feat of warriors of different generations, for whom the defense of the Fatherland is a matter of honor and a sacred duty, Donetsk People’s Republic Head Denis Pushilin said during a video link on Wednesday between Heroes of Russia in Moscow and Heroes of Donbass at the Saur Mogila memorial.
“Today, veterans of many wars gathered here at Saur Mogila, a sacred place for Donbass,” Pushilin said. “On the day of Donbass liberation, we honor the feat of warriors of different generations for whom the defense of the Fatherland is a matter of honor and a sacred duty.”
He said that every inch of soil of the legendary hill is stained with soldiers’ blood. Grandfathers and great-grandfathers dislodged the fascists from here in 1943, while in 2014, the militia liberated this place from Ukrainian troops. Pushilin expressed confidence that “the veterans are resolved to stand in defense of their Motherland anytime.”
“Standing next me is Donetsk People’s Republic Hero Andrey Zaitsev; he courageously fought in many battles for Donbass, including at Saur Mogila. During the Debaltsevo entrapment in February 2015, Andrey Zaitsev’s tank crew burnt three Ukrainian armored vehicles, and after taking direct hits at the turret rammed two Ukrainian tanks,” the DPR leader said.
The video link was arranged by the headquarters for public support of the All-Russia party “United Russia.” Heroes of Russia and Heroes of Labor are among the guests. The video link participants in Donbass include DPR Head Denis Pushilin, DPR Hero Andrey Zaitsev, Hero of Russia, Federation Council member Andrey Karelin, Federation Council First Deputy Speaker, Secretary of United Russia’s General Council Andrey Turchak, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Viktor Vodolatsky and Chairman of the Board of the Donbass Volunteers Union Alexander Borodai.
The commemorative events at the Saur Mogila memorial on Wednesday mark the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Donbass from Nazi occupants. The event brought together some 6,000 people.
Donbass Liberation Day is marked annually on September 8. On that day, the regional center Stalino (later renamed to Donetsk) was recaptured in the course of the Donbass offensive. The Red Army broke through the heavily fortified Nazi Germany defensive line “Mius Front.” Saur Mogila was a strategic point for which Soviet troops fought fierce battles.*jk