The ceremonial unveiling of the restored monument to Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General Ivan Panfilov, the legendary commander of the 316th Rifle Division, formed during the Great Patriotic War in Kyrgyzstan, took place in the village of Panfilovskoye in Chui region of Kyrgyzstan.
Representatives of the Kyrgyz and Russian governments, diplomats, veterans, public figures, students, and residents of the district participated in the ceremony.
The memorial restoration project was implemented by KRSU with the support of the Panfilovsky district administration, a public foundation, and the Dubrovin Foundry, whose specialists restored the monument’s historical appearance.
The ceremony began with the unveiling of the memorial and the laying of flowers. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the fallen.
During the event, the national anthems of Kyrgyzstan and Russia, songs from the war years, and the «Victory Waltz» were performed. An exhibition «Kyrgyzstan During the Great Patriotic War,» and a multimedia project «Panfilov’s Men» were organized for the guests.
Russian Ambassador Sergei Vakunov recalled that it was on Kyrgyz soil in 1941 that the 316th Rifle Division, under the command of Ivan Panfilov, was formed.
«The soldiers fought to the death, showing unparalleled courage and self-sacrifice,» he noted.
The diplomat also quoted the famous inscription written by Panfilov’s men on the walls of the Reichstag: «We are Panfilov’s men. Thank you, Batya, for the felt boots.»
As part of the project, the area surrounding the memorial was also improved, with lighting, benches, a sports field, and a children’s playground installed.
KRSU Rector Sergei Volkov announced that the development of the memorial complex will continue. In the future, it is planned to install military equipment units from the Great Patriotic War and relocate the «Nobody Forgotten, Nothing Forgotten» monument to the memorial.
The monument to Ivan Panfilov was erected in the village of Panfilovskoye in 1972 at the initiative of local residents and with public donations in memory of relatives who died in the war. The monument was designed by Moscow sculptor Eduard Barclay.
