The military glory complex in honor of Operation Bagration, which is located in Svetlogorsk District, was solemnly reopened after reconstruction on 23 June, BelTA has learned.

The opening date was chosen for a reason: the unique strategic Operation Bagration began 82 years ago, on 23 June 1944. It was one of the largest offensive operations of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and one of the largest military operations in the entire history of wars.

The memory of all courageous liberators and innocent victims was honored with a minute of silence. Flowers were laid at the monument as a token of deep respect for the immortal feat of the heroes.

Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko read out the welcoming address from Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to participants of the ceremony to reopen the memorial complex after reconstruction.

Igor Sergeyenko noted that Operation Bagration had been an important milestone on the way to the Great Victory. “In the morning of 22 June 1941 Belarus was the first to face the enemy. On 23 June 1944, three years later, the liberation of Belarus from the German fascist invaders began here with the launch of Operation Bagration,” the speaker of the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament referred to pages of history.

“Operation Bagration is a triumph of Soviet military art that combined the talent of commanders and military leaders, of marshals and generals such as Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky, Chernyakhovsky, Bagramyan, Zakharov, and Antonov who had planned and carried out this operation,” Igor Sergeyenko emphasized.

“The coordinated actions of four fronts, which included 15 combined-arms armies and two tank armies numbering almost 1.5 million personnel, the active participation of Belarusian partisan units and formations, large-scale disinformation measures against the enemy regarding the location and the launch of the 1944 summer campaign... And of course, the key to victories was the mass heroism of all citizens of the multiethnic Soviet Union, of all the warriors who took part in the liberation of our country,” the chairman of the House of Representatives noted.

He reminded that for the liberation of Belarus alone 1,687 warriors were awarded the high title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, including 39 Belarusians. “Thousands were awarded orders and medals. And with Belarus’ liberation the liberation of Western Europe from Nazism began and a direct path opened to the lair of the fascist beast – Berlin,” Igor Sergeyenko stated.

In his words, the monument in Svetlogorsk District is a tribute to the memory of our ancestors, the liberator warriors. “It is our joint contribution to the defense of historical truth and the preservation of memory,” the chairman of the House of Representatives is convinced.

Chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Ivan Krupko drew attention to the fact that the history of the complex is a history of people’s memory. “It began in 2014 when, on the initiative of the honorary citizen of Svetlogorsk Izyaslav Kotlyarov, with the support of Aleksandr Yakobson and Vladimir Dvornik, and with the financial contribution of the Union State, a memorial sign dedicated to the launch of Operation Bagration was installed here. The first step was taken then. A very important and far-sighted step. Because everyone understood: the place from which one of the decisive blows against the enemy began must become a place of nationwide memory,” the Gomel Oblast governor referred to the history of the memorial.

A new stage in the development of the complex began in 2025, the head of the oblast administration reminded. “Its implementation became possible thanks to the joint efforts of the state, worker collectives, public organizations, and caring citizens. Taking into account the funds raised during the oblast and nationwide subbotniks, it is safe to say that absolutely every resident of Belarus made a contribution to this memorial. And this is especially important because memory cannot be built only out of concrete, metal, and stone. Real memory is built by the common participation of people, by common responsibility for the past and future of one’s country,” Ivan Krupko is convinced.

“Today before us is not just a memorial sign. Before us is a large historical and memorial complex that tells new generations about the feat of the liberators, about the courage of soldiers and officers, partisans and underground resistance fighters, of everyone who brought the long-awaited Victory closer,” the Gomel Oblast governor added.

After the large-scale reconstruction an information center building with permanent and temporary exhibitions and a classroom appeared on the territory of the complex. Exhibition halls familiarize visitors with the stages of preparation and implementation of the legendary operation. The outdoor venue was modernized and landscaped, a viewing area for watching reenactments and an additional location for military hardware were set up. In the dugout where the exhibition was previously located an interactive shooting range appeared, in which visitors will be able to virtually find themselves on battlefields.

The Belarusian offensive Operation Bagration is one of the largest military operations of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The offensive operation lasted for 68 days and was conducted in two stages: the first one from 23 June through 4 July, the second one from 5 July through 29 August. The pace of the offensive was 25-30km per day.