Events

MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – The defense potential of the country relies not only on the power of weapons and the level of training of the military but also on the moral ideals and ethic principles of soldiers and officers, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the ceremony to present state awards on 8 October, BelTA has learned.

State awards have been conferred on the people who demonstrated genuine heroism and risked their lives to save others. “We honor our brave military pilots,” the head of state noted. He stressed that aircraft commander of the 61^st fighter aircraft base of the Armed Forces of Belarus Vladimir Pavlenko refused to eject from the aircraft in a situation dangerous to life because the crash of the aircraft in a populated area could result in people’s deaths. In extreme conditions the crew managed to prevent a catastrophe and land the plane at a depot airfield. The pilot received the Order for Personal Courage.

The same award has been bestowed upon Georgy Mishayev, the chief of staff –first deputy commander of the military training air squadron of the 116^th guard attack aviation base of the air defense forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus, who had been deputy commander of the unit at that point in time. He piloted a disabled aircraft to a safe zone and bailed out after having made sure that the plane would not fall on residential buildings.

The Belarusian President thanked the pilots for courage and heroism. He noted that he presents the Order for Personal Courage only in exceptional cases. “You show a good example to the military, an example of service to the Fatherland. You are true heroes,” the President stressed.

He also remarked that in this difficult time it is very important that people who are ready to risk their lives to save others serve in the Armed Forces of Belarus.