Every year on 18 May, an international event is held to mark International Museum Day, during which visitors can explore exhibitions in the evening and at night. This tradition has also gained widespread support in Belarus. This year, 100 of the country’s 154 museums took part. Each museum presented its own original programme under the theme: “Museums, Memory and Creativity — Social Change”.
On 20 May 2017, the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex presented visitors with one of the most unusual, creative and spectacular programmes. The museum complex remained open to visitors throughout the day. Guided tours and entertainment areas offered activities for visitors of all ages. There was something for everyone. Admission tickets were available at a special discount on the day of the event.
The highlight of the programme was a night-time reenactment of a battle from the Soviet–Afghan War. Members of military-history clubs from Belarus and Russia took part in the reenactment* (a list of the clubs appears at the end of this article).
The scenario was based on real events that took place in May 1987 near the village of Surubi in Kunar Province, during a combat operation conducted by the 5th Brigade’s 334th Separate Special-Purpose Detachment under the command of Grigory Bykov. The operation later became known as the “Kovpak Raid”.
“Every operation planned by Bykov was regarded by the men as their last. Letters were burnt and clean underwear was put on. This was in case they were taken to hospital or the morgue, so that the staff would not be embarrassed by a torn vest or underpants. So, when they heard the mission briefing for the raid, many decided that this would be their final battle.”**
According to intelligence from local agents, a sizeable detachment of mujahideen had appeared near the village of Surubi, carrying weapons not normally seen in the area. A special forces detachment set out to eliminate the group.
On approaching the village, the special forces took up positions and sent reconnaissance patrols into it. When the patrols returned, they reported that mujahideen leaders were holding a meeting in one of the houses.
The commander decided to seize the opportunity and capture them.
During the capture operation, the special forces group revealed its position and came under a large-scale attack by the mujahideen, who advanced more aggressively than usual.
“It later emerged that they had captured an Islamic Party of Afghanistan leader during some kind of party gathering. In an attempt to free him, the ‘dushmans’ had assembled around three hundred fighters by evening and attacked the special forces group, which numbered no more than a dozen reconnaissance troops. By nightfall, when the battle reached its height, as many as 1,500 men were fighting on the mujahideen side. The entire operation was directed by a colonel in the Pakistani Armed Forces.”**
After the Islamic Party of Afghanistan leader was killed, the mujahideen assault began to weaken, and the special forces, having suffered heavy losses, called for reinforcements.
The paratroopers who arrived drove the enemy back and helped evacuate the dead and wounded from the battle zone.
The reenactment was large-scale and spectacular. There were virtually no empty seats in the stands. The audience was completely immersed in the atmosphere of the battle.
And believe us, the battle here could be experienced with every sense. It is nothing like watching it on a screen, and no 3D computer game can reproduce the smell of burnt gunpowder. Reenactments like this make you realise that war is evil, human life is fragile, and peace is what matters most!
Text and photographs: Vitaly Dorosh
Our thanks to Sergei Opeikin, Alexander Metla and Maxim Borozennikov for their assistance in reenacting these historical events.
* The following took part in the battle reenactment:
- “Shuravi” Guards Military-Historical Reenactment Club, Minsk (members of the “Soldiers of Victory” Military-Historical Club)
- “Battalion” Military-Historical and Patriotic Club, Mtsensk
- “Flame” Military-Historical Club, Smolensk
- “MEDVEDItsa” Military-Historical Club, Minsk
- “Alliance of Northern Tribes” Military-Historical Club, Polotsk
- 3rd Separate Guards Special-Purpose Brigade, Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, Moscow
** Source: “GRU Special Forces 2: The War Is Not Over, the Story Continues.”
Material reproduced from http://www.travel.otzyv.by/
More photographs:
A special photo area was available for visitors wishing to have a free photograph taken with weapons against the backdrop of a festive banner:
At 21:00, a night battle from the Soviet–Afghan War was reenacted, followed by a fireworks display.
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