The Donetsk Regional Museum of Local History held another educational online meeting as part of the ‘Focus on the Military’ series. The event was attended by students from the Toretsk, Volnovakha and Vuhledar territorial communities in the Donetsk region. The meeting aimed to explore the war through the lens of the personal stories of Ukrainian defenders.
The speakers at the event were Senior Sergeant Roman Balaboiko and Lieutenant Anastasia Kulikova, representatives of the ‘Pomsta’ Brigade of the 3rd Border Guard Detachment named after Colonel Yevhen Pikus, Hero of Ukraine, of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Roman Balaboiko spoke about the unit’s combat history, the symbolism behind its name and the distinctive features of the border guard service. He also highlighted the key historical background to Ukraine’s War of Independence. Anastasia Kulikova shared the story of her journey into the military, spoke about her personal motivation and her service in the Unit-A combat artillery unit. The speaker also addressed the role of women in war.
In an open dialogue, the pupils had the opportunity to ask the military personnel candid questions and learn about the realities of service first-hand. The event formed an important part of the museum’s work on national and patriotic education. It will help teenagers gain a deeper understanding of the high price at which our freedom is won.