The patriotic forum Znanie.Heroes in honor of Heroes of the Fatherland Day was held at the National Centre RUSSIA
On December 9, at the National Centre RUSSIA, the Russian society Znanie organized the patriotic forum Znanie.Heroes to commemorate Heroes of the Fatherland Day. This event marked the conclusion of a series of 10 forums under the same name held across various regions of Russia, attracting over 5,000 activists from all over the country.
Throughout the project, more than 100 Heroes of the Russian Federation, participants of the Special Military Operation (SMO), combat veterans, volunteers, and prominent figures addressed the youth, demonstrating through personal example the importance of contributing to their country's well-being in various situations and events.
The annual All-Russian forum Znanie.Heroes was held for the third consecutive year on Heroes of the Fatherland Day, welcoming over 2,000 young participants. It continued the extensive patriotic project Znanie.Heroes, implemented by the Russian society Znanie since February 2023. The project summarized the outcomes of nine regional forums held in Sevastopol, Nalchik, Ryazan, Lugansk, Khabarovsk, Kurgan, Samara, Novosibirsk, and St. Petersburg. Volunteers from the SMO, war correspondents, distinguished cultural figures, Olympic champions, and humanitarian mission volunteers shared their heroic experiences on the frontlines, offered personal insights, and discussed how everyone can become a hero and contribute to the defense of their Motherland.
The forum's hosts in Moscow were the Russian statesman and television journalist Yevgeny Popov and TV presenter Yulia Baranovskaya. The event began with the Russian Federation's national anthem performed by People’s Artist of Russia Oleg Gazmanov, followed by a moment of silence in memory of the fallen defenders of the Fatherland.
"On Heroes of the Fatherland Day, we honor those who have proven through their actions what true patriotism and devotion to our country mean. Russian history offers many examples of how the courage and bravery of one person saved thousands of others. But heroes do not only live on the pages of history books — they are among us. They are diverse people: servicemen heroically fulfilling their duties in the Special Military Operation zone, volunteers, doctors, teachers. I would like to thank our guests for finding the strength, time, and opportunities to share their experiences, examples, and attitudes toward our country with the younger generation. At a time when the West is attempting to rewrite our history and impose foreign values on us, it is crucial to preserve our history by relying on our people’s experience. It is in this unity, in honoring and remembering our heroes, that no one can ever defeat us," said Kirill Khvil, Deputy Director General of the Russian society Znanie, in his welcome address to the forum participants.
Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA Anastasia Zvyagina also delivered an opening address: "At the RUSSIA EXPO, we consistently honored our heroes and organized tours for participants of the SMO. At the National Centre RUSSIA, established by the President's decree, we have hosted several significant events in just one month: the premiere of the play 'Sisters,' dedicated to women heroes, the presentation of a collection of contemporary frontline poetry, and just yesterday, the screening of the film 'Aldan,' one of the first films about the heroes of the SMO."
She emphasized that cultural events aimed at supporting Heroes of the Fatherland will also be held at the branches of the National Centre RUSSIA, which are set to open next year.
"In 2025, we will mark a significant date — the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. I believe that now is the time for each of us to think about how we will celebrate this occasion and how we will honor our heroes," noted Anastasia Zvyagina.
All forum discussions focused on the patriotic education of youth, fostering unity and cohesion among generations toward a common goal, and expressing recognition and gratitude to the heroes of our country.
The program was divided into thematic sections, including personal stories of heroes from the SMO, war correspondents, and support for soldiers. A lecture titled "Heroes of Russia: Origins of Courage and National Character" was delivered by TV and radio host Vladimir Solovyov, a recipient of the Orders of Merit for the Fatherland (4th class), Alexander Nevsky, Honor, Friendship, and Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic. He spoke about who true Heroes are and why it is essential to support the front and one’s Motherland at any age.
"Work with volunteers. Visit a hospital. Talk to the guys, bring them what they need. Look at another side of war — a terrifying, dirty one that leaves behind horrific scars. And then ask yourself, can you endure this? Find your place in the ranks. And after that? After that, everything will be fine," shared the journalist.
Rodion Gazmanov, singer and host of the project "Face from the Poster," took the stage before the forum participants. He performed the song "Calm Before the Storm," dedicated to his friend and Hero of the Russian Federation Roman Kutuzov, who died on the frontline of the SMO. According to the artist, people in the country have come together strongly for a common cause, and the shared victory is already near. He emphasized that there is hardly anyone in Russia today who has not been touched by the situation — be it through family members, friends, or acquaintances at the frontline. The singer remarked that challenging times reveal both the heroism of those on the battlefield and the engagement of those on the home front. For instance, civilians are organizing humanitarian aid and weaving camouflage nets. In his view, the people who imposed sanctions made a significant miscalculation: instead of destabilizing the country, they united it.
The discussion on the Heroes of the Special Military Operation included Akhra Avidzba, commander of the international brigade "Pyatnashka." Military correspondents also shared their stories of courage, risking their lives daily. These included Leonid Sobolev and Ilya Lyadvin from the NTV channel, Anatoly Borodkin, war correspondent for the Zvezda channel and head of the channel's Ural bureau, who was awarded the Order of Courage, documentary filmmaker and war correspondent Stanislav Obishchenko, and Guseyn Guseynov, a war correspondent for Channel One.
The matters of cultural front and how art draws inspiration from heroic deeds were discussed by Vladislav Malenko, Merited Artist of the Russian Federation, poet, producer, director, and member of the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation on implementing state policy in support of the Russian language and the languages of the peoples of Russia, along with Akim Apachev, a musician, songwriter, performer, war correspondent, and artist. The legacy of the SMO in poetry was addressed by Alexander Vanyushkin, a Special Forces lieutenant colonel, author-performer, creator of the hit song "333," and a trusted representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as by Anna Revyakina, a poet and associate professor at the Faculty of World Politics at Lomonosov Moscow State University and member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.
Volunteers involved in the Special Military Operation shared their experiences supporting the frontlines and civilians with the guests of the Znanie.Heroes forum. Speakers included Vladimir Taranenko, Deputy Head of the People's Front and leader of its youth wing; Sergei Karyakin, Russian senator, chess player, and grandmaster; and Anna Yeryomenko, head of the regional executive committee of the People's Front in the Lugansk People’s Republic and member of its Civic Chamber. Furthermore, the Russian society Znanie forum highlighted the critical role of medics in saving the lives of soldiers.
Alexei Petrov, coordinator for the volunteer program at the Tactical Medicine Special Training Centre, Boris Sychenikov, a trauma orthopedic surgeon from the Kommunarka Clinical Centre and Honored Doctor of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and Boris Gurkin, trauma orthopedic surgeon, candidate of medical sciences, and chief physician of the City Emergency Hospital in Novocherkassk, discussed real stories of courage and saving soldiers on the frontlines.
The forum also featured Fyodor Gerashchenko, Deputy Head of the regional executive committee of the People's Front in the Krasnodar region and Director of the Tactical Training Centre "Archangel." Gerashchenko received the Order of Courage from Russian President Vladimir Putin at the international #WEARETOGETHER awards held from December 5 to 7. The Russian society Znanie served as a program partner of the International Civil Participation Forum #WEARETOGETHER. Experts delved into themes of volunteerism, selflessness, and assistance to Russian soldiers in the Znanie.Library space at the Manezh Exposition Hall. Over the three-day event, participants and guests engaged with prominent figures and opinion leaders, discussing the development of volunteerism, family traditions, and love for the Motherland.
Heroes of Russia Day was celebrated not only at the National Centre RUSSIA but also featured speaker sessions at the Central Exposition Hall Manezh as part of the All-Russian Patriotic Forum "Patriot 2024," which included the presentation of the National Patriot Award. In the Znanie.Library space, participants learned about the importance of civic responsibility from State Duma Deputy and volunteer rescuer Oleg Leonov. Ivan Kamenev, host of "Solovyov LIVE" and media technologist, shared his firsthand experience of the liberation and restoration of Donbas. The forum also hosted meetings with heroic mothers Natalya Burambayeva and Yekaterina Yevstratova.
In collaboration with the patriotic education centre "VOIN," the Russian society Znanie developed New Year’s cards as part of the Znanie.Heroes forum to support the morale of soldiers in the Special Military Operation zone. The designs of the cards were based on children’s drawings — symbols of hope and purity, reminding us of the values for which our heroes fight. Over 1,500 cards with heartfelt congratulations and warm words of encouragement were prepared by forum participants, becoming a powerful source of strength for our defenders ahead of the New Year. Visitors to the stand also had the opportunity to test their skills in assembling and disassembling a Kalashnikov rifle.
"Every branch of the VOIN Centre collects humanitarian aid for the fighters of the SMO, and many personally deliver it to our servicemen. Along with essential items, we often send letters from our cadets to the frontlines — they are eager to support the soldiers and convey their warmest wishes. Drawing on this experience, we decided to organize a kind pre-New Year initiative with the Russian society Znanie: sending congratulatory cards featuring children’s drawings to the fighters. On December 9, Heroes of the Fatherland Day, as part of the patriotic forum Znanie.Heroes, about 1,500 New Year’s cards were signed in the VOIN Centre space, and we will soon deliver them to the Special Military Operation zone. Our defenders must remember that the entire country stands with them!" said Viktor Vodolatsky, Chairman of the Board of the VOIN Centre, State Duma Deputy, and Hero of the Lugansk People’s Republic.
In honor of Heroes of the Fatherland Day, the Znanie.Heroes project also developed digital postcards for the highways of the Federal Road Agency. The "Streets with Faces" initiative is being implemented with the participation of the Administrative Directorate of the President of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance, and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. From December 9 to 15, car owners in Nizhny Novgorod, Tatarstan, and Volgograd will have the opportunity to learn about the stories of six Heroes of the Russian Federation. These individuals not only defend the Motherland in the SMO zone but also serve as lecturers for the Znanie society in various projects carried out across 89 regions of the country.
Since early December, the Znanie.Academy platform has offered a special online course on the basics of public speaking designed for participants of the SMO and combat veterans. The course aims to help individuals feel confident in front of an audience, structure their speeches, turn personal stories into memorable presentations, and share important information about the operation. The course includes six video lectures with summaries, tests, and supplementary materials, all based on the real-life stories and practical experiences of active participants in the SMO.
The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.
The National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.
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