More than 12,500 Moldovans were sent to fight in the war in Afghanistan and lost their youth and health or even life. 300 Moldovans died, while another 700 were injured in the Mountains of Central Asia. The veterans and their successors give priority to life, stated President Maia Sandu, who rendered homage to the veterans on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the withdrawal of the troops from Afghanistan, IPN reports.
“God rest the souls of those who died in battle! We show our respect to those who returned from the front and built their life at home. For them, for their successors, life is a key priority as is life in freedom for the Ukrainians now. This is the lesson we learn this year with a war close to our borders. It is our duty to keep peace and freedom in our country,” stated President Sandu.
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, in the commemoration event held at the Memorial Complex to the Sons of the Motherland, said that even if 34 years have passed, the sufferings and pain of the families of victims are not yet over. The war that is now being fought in the neighborhood of Moldova is as ugly, bloody, unjust and cruel as that war. “I thank you for being united in these difficult moments. We did an extraordinary thing. We could keep peace and will further keep peace and concord in the Republic of Moldova,” stated the official.
The head of the Union of Afghanistan War Veterans Mihail Mocan underlined the importance of such commemoration events for the veterans who remained alive and for the future generations. “Thirty-four years have already passed since the Russian military contingent withdrew from Afghanistan. We remember well the years of war. The war didn’t spare anyone in Afghanistan, but the peaceful life generated for us even more difficult tasks each day, each year and didn’t given us moments of respite. Our comrade friendship and cohesion helped us to resist. During these years, the Union of Afghanistan War Veterans in the Republic of Moldova became a public association that respects and promotes the dialogue, cooperation for the benefit of all the country’s citizens,” stated Mihail Mocan.
The war in Afghanistan lasted for nine years. The Soviet troops withdrew on February 15, 1989. The day of remembrance for those killed in the war in Afghanistan was instituted in Moldova by a Parliament decision in 2011.
