Visit of the delegation of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center to Ugra

From May 8th to 12th, 2024, a delegation of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center visited the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Ugra in order to conduct joint training events with the participation of Russian and Serbian fire and rescue teams.

An agreement on the exchange of experience was reached during the visit of the Ugra delegation to the Republic of Serbia in October 2023 and a meeting with the directorate of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center. The parties agreed to conduct joint training with the participation of Russian and Serbian volunteer firefighters and rescuers.

In May 2024, the program of the visit included training events for professional training “Volunteer Firefighter,” a visit to the Humanitarian Volunteer Corps, a branch of the State Fund for Support of Participants of the Defenders of the Fatherland, a visit to the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Khanty-Mansiysk. The delegation took part in events dedicated to the 79th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, laying flowers at the Memorial of Glory in Victory Park.

“The Serbian and Russian people have always been linked by faith, culture, and origin. It is a great honor for me to be in Russia on this day to celebrate the heroism of our ancestors with you. Our task is to continue this tradition,” Despotovich Mihailo, representative of the Stevan Sinjelic volunteer fire brigade from Nis, Republic of Serbia, shared his impressions.

The delegation includes six representatives of the Union of Volunteer Firefighters of Nis and the Nis region, Kovin (Republic of Serbia), the Fire Union of the Republic of Serbia, and two specialists from the Russian—Serbian Humanitarian Center. The guests visited the 132nd unit and then went to the museum of firefighters and rescuers of Ugra. Serbian colleagues presented the institution with the helmet of a Serbian firefighter.

“The cooperation will continue. Soon we will exchange practical experience with the Humanitarian Corps team, introduce the guests to our equipment and our way of extinguishing fires,” Alexander Radosavljevic, a member of the command staff of the Fire Union of Serbia, stated.

Together with volunteer firefighters, volunteer archivists will go to Serbia. They will work in the city of Bila Tserkva, where they will take part in restoration work on the territory of the “Russian Necropolis.”

“We will explore opportunities to help preserve and restore the historical and memorial complex “Russian Necropolis,” the burial place of Russian officers, which is located near Belgrade. It is of major importance to the Russian Federation. Moreover, there is a corresponding decision of the Government of the Russian Federation. The city of Khanty-Mansiysk plans to sign twinning with the city of Belaya Tserkva, and volunteers will help in restoration works”, Yakov Samokhvalov, Director of the Department of Youth Policy, Civil Initiatives and External Relations of the Autonomous Okrug, shared his plans.