Posted:
23.04.2025 10:38:57
Here they are — Heroes!
Names every Belarusian should know
Just recently, we have celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the state award, the highest title conferred for exceptional service to the state and society — Hero of Belarus. During this time, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed nine decrees awarding the title, listing 14 names. We have collected bright quotes from Heroes and about Heroes to remember the people who, through their labour and feats, forever inscribed their names in the history of independent Belarus.
Vladimir Karvat, first class military pilot
In 1996, he diverted the falling plane away from residential buildings and saved many people at the cost of his life
Yekaterina Lukashevich, daughter of the first Hero of Belarus,
“The military uniform suited my father very well. He also smiled often. In the museum, which is located in Brest school No. 8 where my father studied, there is one photograph... In it, my father is captured with his signature smile. Some, I heard, looking at the photograph, compare him to Gagarin.”
“I knew that he could not do otherwise. That is his character. I, or anyone close to him, have no right to condemn him for that. Not everyone can do what he did. This is about strength of mind, will power…”
Pavel Mariyev, scientist and production organiser in the field of automobile manufacturing
In the 1990s, difficult years for the industry, he saved the BELAZ enterprise: thanks to him, Belarusian heavy trucks are recognisable all over the world
Anatoly Garbar, colleague of the Hero of Belarus,
“I happened to communicate with Pavel Lukyanovich [Mariyev] not only at work, but also in an informal setting. To this day, he remains the same simple, responsive and humane person. No hint of stardom, let alone arrogance. It has always been comfortable with him. If you need to talk — you are welcome. If you need advice — no problem. The entire team was glad that the second person to be awarded this high title was our Pavel Lukyanovich. It is gratifying that the country recognised particularly his efforts. Only he was able to keep the plant going in the most difficult times and make it a world giant. Many technologies were mastered only thanks to his professionalism and faith that everything would work out.”
Vitaly Kremko, chairman of the Oktyabr-Grodno SPK (agricultural production co-operative)
Under his leadership, Oktyabr-Grodno SPK achieved unprecedented success, and to this day it is one of the country’s exemplary agricultural enterprises
Sergei Kremko, son of the Hero of Belarus,
“My father passed on to me his invaluable experience, the right attitude to business, to people. He was very principled, tough and complex. He did not divide people into his own and others, although my brothers and I worked under his leadership. We were equally rebuked for mistakes. He did not tolerate hypocrisy, and he always acted fairly. He is always in my memory. Sometimes I feel his presence. When I doubt something, I look at his photo and think: what would he do? I mentally consult with him. My father is a rock.”
Aleksandr Dubko, administrative leader and government figure
Under his leadership, Grodno Region became a highly developed industrial, agrarian and cultural region of the country
Aleksandr Dubko, son of the Hero of Belarus,
“What did I learn from my father? Everything. And I’m not exaggerating. I was lucky: I grew up next to three Heroes of Belarus. True, they did not have stars back then, of course. They worked together, and my father sometimes asked Vasily Afanasievich Revyako and Vitaly Ilyich Kremko to look after me. You know, they probably played no less a role in my upbringing. I learned a lot from them, too.”
Mikhail Karchmit, administrative leader
Under his leadership, Agrokombinat Snov became the pride of the Belarusian agro-industrial complex and the benchmark for the development of the agricultural sector
Mikhail Karchmit,
“I am watching today’s youth with interest, especially those who are just entering the industry. I often compare them to our generation and I wonder how today’s twenty-year-olds are better than us. When I see in the behaviour and actions of young people a desire for the new, for development, I feel joy. I understand that the youth can achieve a lot. We should trust them more. Then the experience necessary for the work will come much faster.”
Mikhail Vysotsky, scientist and design engineer in the field of automobile manufacturing
Half a thousand models of Belarusian trucks were designed under his leadership
Mikhail Vysotsky,
“I am happy because my ten-million-strong country today has the right to be called a powerful machine-building state, producing its own automobiles, quarry equipment, tractors, combine harvesters, and buses. I am also happy that my endeavours — along with the teams of plants decorated with honours, the legendary directors, design engineers, and workers — have contributed to the achievement of our common goal. I can only imagine how much our scientists will achieve during their long creative lives, which I wish for each of them. My dear ones, live long, happy, and productive lives. I take with me — as a gift from fate — your words, smiles, and good wishes. How glad I am to have heard them while I am still alive. Thank you!”
Vasily Revyako, chairman of the Progress-Vertelishki SPK (agricultural production co-operative)
in Grodno Region
Over the years of his work as the head of the Progress-Vertelishki SPK, he raised the bar for agricultural standards to a height unattainable for many
Vasily Revyako,
“It is clear that everyone living on Earth aspires to be a general or a hero. It is natural. However, I have never been focused on that. I keep working like I always did, try to do my best. The main thing is that I do not keep it in my mind that I am a Hero. Maybe just sometimes, when I change my clothes and put on my jacket with a star on it, I recall: I’m also a Hero.”
Piotr Prokopovich, statesman
He made a significant contribution to ensuring sustainable economic growth and improving the standard of living of the population
Piotr Prokopovich,
“I have always worked a lot and devoted little time to my children and grandchildren. I defined my task as follows — I must help my children and grandchildren get an education and build housing. And then, they should take care of themselves and in the future, recalling their parents and grandfather, also help their children and grand-children.”
Filaret, Orthodox Church figure, Metropolitan
He made an exceptional personal contribution to the spiritual revival of the Belarusian people, the strengthening of friendship and fraternal ties, and the development of interfaith dialogue
Filaret,
“In today’s Belarus, the main life orientations of society, which are equally important for the high leadership of the country and for ordinary workers, are social harmony, interfaith peace and the possibility of fruitful creative work. Our main task is to preserve and multiply the greatest achievement, the gift of God — peace on the Belarusian land.”
Mikhail Savitsky, painter
His paintings have become a new word in our art and have gained worldwide recognition
Mikhail Savitsky,
“A lot remains unfulfilled. Sometimes I feel sad that some of my long-conceived but not yet painted pictures will go with me. Alas, there is less and less time left, I simply will not have time to realise many things, while there are such ideas that it is a pity to take them with me, I would like them to stay here. I am talking about the paintings that I conceived in my youth, and about those that were born in my head and heart relatively recently. For example, I would really like to make a large work in which I would visibly embody the formation of the Belarusian state. How to express the centuries-old path of our homeland on canvas?.. I have been thinking about this for a long time, racking my brains. You know, an artist is, first of all, about thinking, whereas a brush and some painting techniques are a craft, not art...”
Darya Domracheva, biathlete
She is the first biathlete to win three individual races at the Olympic Games and the first to win four Olympic gold medals
Darya Domracheva,
“Everything in life should be done with love. Even the hardest work does not seem so insurmountable, difficult and complicated if you approach this work with a pure heart, if you have love for it from within. There is no need to fear difficulties, challenges, and falls — for it is precisely these moments that give us a great opportunity to become a better version of ours-elves than we were yesterday.”
Andrei Nichiporchik and Nikita Kukonenko, military pilots
At the cost of their lives in 2021, they diverted the uncontrollable plane away from residential buildings
Bronislav Zharsky, fellow serviceman of the Heroes of Belarus,
“My comrades and I had no doubt that the guys would be awarded the Hero of Belarus title. We are very grateful to the Commander-in Chief for this decision, although I think you remember that the President — as soon as he learned about what had happened — referred to them as Heroes. The only thing... It hurts that the decree has the note ‘posthumously’. They can no longer put a star on their jackets. After all, they were Heroes in life.”
Marina Vasilevskaya, cosmonaut
She became the first cosmonaut of sovereign Belarus and received the title for her courage during space flight
Marina Vasilevskaya,
“I never dreamed of space. I didn’t have any friends or acquaintances in the space industry. Not even in the flight industry. By the will of fate, I ended up in an airline, where I worked for seven happy years. Yet by nature, I am a leader — I constantly want to develop and move forward. I thought: where do I see myself next? I looked at the sky and asked myself: what could be higher than 10,000 metres above the Earth? It turns out, space. Indeed, our thoughts are material. If they are kind, aimed at the good of the Motherland, then, for sure, you will be noticed and all doors will be opened for you.”
The book Heroes of Belarus by Nikolai Machekin, editor-in-chief of the Znamya Yunosti [Youth Banner] newspaper, features 12 interviews with relatives, friends and colleagues of people who were awarded the high title. You can also read about the Heroes of Belarus on our website www.sb.by/en/tags/Heroes of Belarus/
By Nikolai Machekin
