Ceremonial meeting was held in the Palace of the Republic on the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day, which was attended by the top officials of the state, military personnel and veterans of the Armed Forces, pupils of Suvorov Military College, cadets. The PMR Defense Minister Oleg Obruchkov addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. He congratulated the military personnel and announced a minute of silence in memory of the fallen defenders of the Fatherland.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky made a welcoming and congratulatory speech. The Pridnestrovian land is famous for its military history, and there are heroes in any history – defenders of the Fatherland, the President said. "The feat of our defenders of the Fatherland is visible in Pridnestrovie not just in words, not only in historical documents. Examples: the Fortress of Bendery, which was stormed by the glorious warriors of Catherine the Great, the memorial complex of the city of Bendery, where the soldiers of 115 regiments of the Russian Imperial Army were buried: officers, soldiers and generals, obelisks erected in honor of the defenders of our Fatherland, our Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, when it was the Soviet soldier, the Soviet people who stopped with their feat the advance of the most vile ideology – fascist and Nazi," Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized.
The President recalled that in the 90s of the last century, with the collapse of a powerful state the Soviet Union the Pridnestrovians again had to take up arms, standing up to defend their Motherland from the nationalist regime of the neighboring state. "The entire people in fact: some with weapons in their hands, some in the rear – all became defenders of Pridnestrovie and defended the right to live, the right to speak their native languages, the right to read books in any language. This is our right. This right was given to us many centuries ago, and we have not lost it to this day,” Vadim Krasnoselsky noted.
Thanks to the heroic past on which the Pridnestrovian society was brought up, Pridnestrovie still has a strong army, the President said. The army infrastructure is improved in the republic, comfortable conditions for service are created for military personnel every year. Vadim Krasnoselsky thanked for this the Minister of Defense of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Oleg Obruchkov and all personnel. Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that military service is not only a military duty, but a school of life as well. "Where, if not in the army, will young people be taught how to properly handle weapons, dig a trench for shooting, and correctly apply tactical skills in modern combat conditions? The Pridnestrovian army is a school of modern life. I advise everyone to go through it. You are ready to defend yourself, your loved ones, your family, your homeland if you have gone through this school", the PMR President emphasized.
The President reminded that Pridnestrovie is not an aggressor, but it will always be able to defend itself if necessary. Vadim Krasnoselsky added in conclusion that he would like our military history to remain in the past, and the present to be a history of creation, development and peace. The PMR President congratulated those gathered on the upcoming holiday, wishing everyone health and peace.
The ceremonial part of the event ended with the presentation of state awards to distinguished servicemen. It continued with a festive concert.
