With the minute of silence Dmitry Artyukhov and Sergey Yamkin paid tribute to the memory of their countrymen lost in the war

On the 22nd of June, the Day of memory and sorrow, residents of Yamal remember one of the most terrible dates in the history of the country. The entire Russia mourns the defenders of the Fatherland, who fell at battlefronts of the Great Patriotic War, died of wounds in hospitals, and went missing from 1941 to 1945.

The governor of Yamal Dmitry Artyukhov and the chairman of the regional parliament Sergey Yamkin paid tribute to the memory of their countrymen with the minute of silence and laid flowers at the Eternal Flame.

“79 years ago, on the 22nd of June of 1941 Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, and the Great Patriotic War began; the war terrible with human losses, bloody battles and severe trials. Every 5th resident of Yamal left for the battlefront in 1941. And every third - did not return. They gave their lives for us, defended their homeland and crushed fascism. We bow our heads and mourn the lost, pay tribute to the memory and respect of all, who was bringing the Great Victory closer at battlefronts and the home front, gave us peace and happiness to live in a free country”, the governor wrote in his message.

The Great Patriotic War affected every resident of Yamal. The first echelons left for the battlefront from Yamal three weeks after the start of the war - on the 13th of July of 1941, as the press service of the Legislative Assembly of Yamal reports. In four years 8982 residents of Yamal, including 500 women, were enrolled into the ranks of the Red Army of workers and peasants. They died at battlefronts, went missing, 3816 people died, it means each third of those people, who went to the battlefront. The people of Yamal bravely fought at Yelnya and Smolensk, on the Volga, the Battle of Kursk, participated in breaking of the siege of Leningrad, liberation of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria and stormed Berlin. Two residents of Yamal were directly involved in hoisting of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. During the Great Patriotic War about 3000 people were awarded with state awards.

“Today we are in an unpaid debt to those, who steadfastly, courageously and selflessly defended the Motherland at battlefields, who performed labor feats at the home front, proving to the whole world the greatness of spirit of the Soviet people and their unshakable faith in victory. Our countrymen also fought fearlessly and heroically in this war. Low bow to all living war veterans and home front workers for saving of the native land from fascism. Eternal memory to those, who did not return home”, the speaker said and underlined that the national heroic feat of the Soviet people in the fight against the Nazi invaders would forever remain in memory of people.

Dmitry Artyukhov also participated in the All-Russian action “Red carnation”, which started today and will last until the 22nd of September. Residents of the region can donate any sum of money in exchange for a symbolic carnation, as the press service of the head of the region reports. The action is held in two formats – online and offline. The funds are used for high-tech medical care and rehabilitation for veterans. Last year Yamal was recognized as the most active among regions participating in the action. Photos can be found here.