June 22 is one of the most mournful dates in the history of Belarus. On this day, the country bows its heads in memory of those whose lives were cut short by the Great Patriotic War, the victims of the genocide of the Belarusian people, and the millions of lives shattered by pain, separation, and loss.

85 years ago, on June 22, 1941, a peaceful morning was shattered by war. That day marked the beginning of 1,418 days and nights of courage, suffering, resistance, and hope. Belarus was one of the first to bear the brunt of the tragedy, and its land forever preserves the memory of the tragedy: of burned villages, death camps, mass executions, of children, women, the elderly, soldiers, and partisans who became part of the nation's shared history of sacrifice.

During the war, over 2.2 million people died on Belarusian soil, and approximately 400,000 were deported to Germany for forced labor. Hundreds of death camps and mass extermination sites were established across the country. Behind these horrific figures lie not statistics, but human lives, families, voices, dreams, and destinies that we have no right to forget.

On National Remembrance Day, mourning ceremonies are held throughout Belarus, with flower-laying ceremonies at memorials and commemorative sites, and words of sorrow and gratitude are expressed. A special symbol of this day is the All-Belarusian minute of silence—a moment when the entire country pauses to honor the memory of the fallen.

Traditionally, at 4:00 a.m., a requiem service is held at the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex. It is here, at the walls of the legendary fortress, that the breath of history is most keenly felt: the first explosions of the war, the steadfastness of the defenders, the pain of loss, and the power of national memory. During these days, Brest also hosts memorial processions, photo exhibitions, vintage equipment displays, and performances by creative groups and historical reenactment clubs.

June 22 is not only a day of mourning. It is a day of remembrance that unites generations. A day when it's important to stop, remember, and pass on the truth about the war so that tragedy never happens again.