BREST, 2 May (BelTA) – About 400 people joined the patriotic cycling ride “Roads of Memory” in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park on 2 May, BelTA has learned.
People from across Belarus came together for the cycling ride, eager to spend an active day outdoors while connecting with their country’s history. During a rally, adults, young people, and children laid flowers at the monument to the heroic machine gunners and observed a minute of silence in honor of the nation’s defenders and the innocent lives lost in the Great Patriotic War.
“We organized a large‑scale cycling ride in the run-up to 9 May, following the roads where combat operations took place and where brave partisans defended the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The main message is to remember what happened across the country during the war,” explained Maksim Prikhodovsky, Deputy Director General of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park.
The route stretched over 20 kilometers and was filled with interactive events. Along the way, there were two sites featuring reenactments. For example, in the Kislyaki tract, the forest silence was suddenly shattered by the sound of gunfire. The cycling ride participants were not mere spectators but active participants in the events. Historical reenactors performed a scene of a partisan ambush.
“We performed a composite scene depicting a victory over the Nazi German invaders. A column of civilians accidentally stumbles into an ambush, and Soviet Army soldiers engage the enemy to defend them. What makes this unique is the element of improvisation. Many of the reenactors work as extras for Belarusfilm,” said reenactor Ilya Kazanovsky.
At Lake Lavy, the cyclists made a brief stop. The reenactors there prepared several master classes.
Yelena, a Minsk resident, has taken part in the Victory Day cycling ride in Belovezhskaya Pushcha several times before. “Every time I take part in this event, it brings tears to my eyes. I hold the 9 May holiday in deep reverence. Both of my grandfathers were front‑line soldiers and received medals. My Russian grandfather fought at the Kursk Bulge and Stalingrad and made it all the way to Berlin. My Belarusian grandfather was left shell‑shocked. I am here to honor their memory,” she said.
A large group of healthcare workers from Pinsk also joined the ride. They are regular participants in all kinds of healthy lifestyle events, and this time was no exception. “I was drawn to the cycling ride because of its interactive nature,” said Pavel, who came to Belovezhskaya Pushcha with his son and colleagues. “I love the atmosphere of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The centuries‑old trees are breathtaking, and sometimes you can spot animals in the wild, like roe deer or red deer. I prefer living nature over asphalt.” He added that along the route, his thoughts turned to his grandfather, who fought in the war. “I feel immense pride for all the defenders,” Pavel shared. “My grandfather went through the entire war, was captured several times, but still made it home.”
Enjoying the beauty of the ancient forest, the cyclists reached the second site, where they experienced the reenactment “Caution, Mines!” This was another episode of a clash between defenders and Nazi invaders. The route also included a stop at the monument honoring the Kovpak partisan movement. After the tiring yet event‑filled ride, the participants made a rest stop at Tsarskaya Polyana.
Aleksandr from Kamenets loves cycling and traveling with his family. “We waited for our son to get big enough before attempting over 20 kilometers today,” he said. “He used to ride with us in a special child’s seat. My wife and I are regular cyclists. Last year, we took a nearly 200 km trip along the amber route of our Polesie, visiting famous landmarks along the way. So we couldn’t miss the chance to ride through the trails of Belovezhskaya Pushcha today.” Aleksandr, his wife, and their eight‑year‑old son Vladislav all wore soldiers’ caps during the ride in memory of their relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War.
“My sister and I made a documentary about our great‑grandfather, who fought through the entire war to the very end. He was very brave and strong and was wounded many times. He was awarded for the capture of Berlin, for the liberation of Warsaw, and received the Medal for the Victory over Germany, the Medal for Courage, and the Order of the Patriotic War,” the boy listed with pride.
His father succinctly explained why it is so important for him to pass on the memory of their ancestors to his children. “A nation that does not remember their history has no future. We must pass it down from generation to generation so that people remember and take pride in their ancestors and never, under any circumstances, allow the terrible tragedy that occurred 85 years ago on our land to be repeated,” the Kamenets resident concluded.
Photos by Violetta Yuzhakova
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