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Tragic, heroic episodes of Brest Fortress defense reenacted at dawn on 22 June
22/06/2026 11:06
BREST, 22 June (BelTA) – About a thousand people recreated tragic and heroic episodes of the defense of the Brest Fortress, BelTA has learned.
The military history reenactment of the defense of the Brest Fortress is a traditional event. Year after year at dawn on 22 June residents of the city upon the Bug River and guests from various corners of Belarus as well as from abroad gather in the citadel to see the action and feel the atmosphere of that morning.
The audience was presented with an episode of the last peaceful day of 1941 in the Brest garrison and its surroundings, the general offensive on border guard stations, and the defense of pillboxes around the citadel. Reenactors also showed a duel between a German tank and a 45mm cannon, recreated the battle for the Chileyevo border guard station on approaches to the fortress, and many other events. Retro vehicles and cavalry were employed.
Aleksandr Pasternak from Vitebsk has been taking part in the military history reenactment in the Brest Fortress for more than ten years, and every year the scale of the event increases. For example, this time aircraft were also employed.
“Emotions always overwhelm you after such an event,” he noted. “It was also quite emotional from the point of view of acting skills. For me as a reenactor the memory of the people and maintaining this memory are of great importance. In modern society maintaining and preserving memory is the first matter that deserves attention.”
Yelena Pastushok and Yelena Poluyanko, who are friends and colleagues from the town of Volkovysk, were in the Brest Fortress on the morning of 22 June. The women are teachers by profession and have already visited the citadel with their students, but they attended the events that took place here at night and at dawn for the first time.
“Today is a special day. This is a day of remembrance. We are obliged on this day to pay tribute to those who protected our peace and gave us the opportunity to live,” Yelena Pastushok said, adding that with a sinking heart she watches how the events unfolded at dawn on 22 June. “My grandfather is a holder of three Orders of Lenin. He reached Berlin and even signed the Reichstag. Therefore today is a holy day for me,” the woman shared.
“After the first visit the Brest Fortress left an indelible impression, this is why today I am here with my friends,” Yelena Poluyanko noted. “When I hear shots fired, I get goosebumps. I immediately imagine how it really happened, how people felt at that moment.”
The script of the military history reenactment is based on historical facts and involves no fiction. For the convenience of spectators key episodes of the battle were broadcast on large screens in real time.
The military history reenactment of the defense of the Brest Fortress is a traditional event. Year after year at dawn on 22 June residents of the city upon the Bug River and guests from various corners of Belarus as well as from abroad gather in the citadel to see the action and feel the atmosphere of that morning.
The audience was presented with an episode of the last peaceful day of 1941 in the Brest garrison and its surroundings, the general offensive on border guard stations, and the defense of pillboxes around the citadel. Reenactors also showed a duel between a German tank and a 45mm cannon, recreated the battle for the Chileyevo border guard station on approaches to the fortress, and many other events. Retro vehicles and cavalry were employed.
Aleksandr Pasternak from Vitebsk has been taking part in the military history reenactment in the Brest Fortress for more than ten years, and every year the scale of the event increases. For example, this time aircraft were also employed.
“Emotions always overwhelm you after such an event,” he noted. “It was also quite emotional from the point of view of acting skills. For me as a reenactor the memory of the people and maintaining this memory are of great importance. In modern society maintaining and preserving memory is the first matter that deserves attention.”
Yelena Pastushok and Yelena Poluyanko, who are friends and colleagues from the town of Volkovysk, were in the Brest Fortress on the morning of 22 June. The women are teachers by profession and have already visited the citadel with their students, but they attended the events that took place here at night and at dawn for the first time.
“Today is a special day. This is a day of remembrance. We are obliged on this day to pay tribute to those who protected our peace and gave us the opportunity to live,” Yelena Pastushok said, adding that with a sinking heart she watches how the events unfolded at dawn on 22 June. “My grandfather is a holder of three Orders of Lenin. He reached Berlin and even signed the Reichstag. Therefore today is a holy day for me,” the woman shared.
“After the first visit the Brest Fortress left an indelible impression, this is why today I am here with my friends,” Yelena Poluyanko noted. “When I hear shots fired, I get goosebumps. I immediately imagine how it really happened, how people felt at that moment.”
The script of the military history reenactment is based on historical facts and involves no fiction. For the convenience of spectators key episodes of the battle were broadcast on large screens in real time.