Student Victory March held in Main Building courtyard
Kazan Federal University hosted an event dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Student Victory March and a flower laying ceremony on May 6.
To honor the memory of all those who fought for a peaceful sky above the Fatherland and to express gratitude to them gathered Rector of Kazan University Lenar Safin, vice-rectors, directors and teachers of institutes, as well as students.
It has become a good tradition at the University to celebrate the holiday with the Student Victory March, which has been held here for 10 years now. The platoon of drummers of the Kazan Suvorov Military School marched before the ceremony. The honorary battalion, commanded by Nail Salikhov, Associate Professor of the Department of Human Health of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, included students and employees of KFU in historical military uniforms.
The celebration was opened with the anthems of Russia and Kazan University, and then the guests of honor addressed the participants of the Student Victory March with welcoming speeches and congratulations.
“Nazi Germany unleashed war against us in 1941. Then the Great Patriotic War began for us, which lasted 1,418 days and nights. During those four years, the country and the Red Army had to endure both defeats and victories,” Yakov Grishin, Professor of the Department of International Relations, World Politics and Diplomacy of the Institute of International Relations, History and Eastern Studies, member of the KFU Veterans Council, reminded the audience.
Yuri Sitnikov, Engineer of the Department of Radio Physics, who witnessed the Great Patriotic War as a child, also addressed the guests.
A significant moment of the ceremony, as always, was a minute of silence. The whole celebration paused and silenced as a sign of reverence for the victims who gave their lives for the well-being of the country and its people.
“It is great that such events are held, that we remember those who really fought for our future, whose names are forever inscribed in the history of the country. Such names are in every family, and it is important to pass them on from generation to generation,” shared freshwoman Dina Kashapova.
KFU became a part of the Student Flame of Memory campaign, organized by the Committee for Children and Youth Affairs of the Executive Committee of Kazan. The flame was passed from one educational institution to another as a sign of unity and common memory.
“We live in a happy time. We need to realize thanks to whom we have a bright sky over our heads and opportunities for all-round development. Huge words of gratitude to our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, all the homefront workers and even children, who during the war did everything for the sake of victory without working hard, without sparing their health,” added the Chairwoman of the Committee for Children and Youth Affairs of the Executive Committee of Kazan Aliya Zagidullina.
Military songs Cranes and Katyusha were performed from the stage, and accompanied the indispensable iconic attribute of May 9, the song Victory Day, white doves were launched into the clear sky.
Further, on the instructions of the commander, the honorary battalion proceeded to the Rector’s Garden. The flower laying ceremony tool place near the memorial wall.
The ceremony was opened by First Vice-Rector Dmitry Tayursky, “The fortitude of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War has been described many times. The famous house of Sergeant Pavlov in Stalingrad repelled Nazi attacks for 58 days and was never captured. This is an example of how our grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought.”
He also added that Kazan University made a great contribution to the cause of victory. Not only those who went to the front, but also those who stayed to develop science helped in the common cause.
“We must remember that our students, teachers gave their lives for the fact that today we have the opportunity to study, to work. Unfortunately, the wall of memory continues to grow; here are the participants of the military conflicts of the 1980s – and today’s special military operation,” said the Vice-Rector.
After the end of the Student Victory March and the march of the banner group, Rector Lenar Safin made a welcoming speech.
He reminded the audience that the war years were not an easy time for Kazan University. In the first days, about 400 people went to the front. The rest worked on the homefront, sparing no effort, health, or time.
“There is no family in our country that was not touched by the terrible war,” emphasized the Rector. “This time required fortitude and courage. Not everyone returned home to their relatives and friends. There were many students and employees of Kazan University among the fallen. Eternal memory to them! And endless gratitude to all our veterans – war veterans, home front workers, and others. We will not forget your feat!”
Lenar Safin also noted that the main task for today is not to let the younger generation forget about the price and exceptional courage that won this victory.
