Tula State University became one of the key venues for the Eighth International “Victory Dictation”, dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War and modern heroism.

The event was held as part of “Yedinaya Rossia”'s federal party project "Historical Memory."

The university hosted three regional platforms: two for university students and faculty, and an international platform for international students from the Institute of International Education. International students from 70 countries studying at Tula State University learned with particular interest about the contribution of the multinational people of the USSR to Victory Day and the heroic deeds of modern defenders of the Fatherland.

321 students, 39 volunteers, and 6 moderators gathered to remember the heroism of our ancestors.

Among the participants were also members of the university leadership: vice-rectors, institute directors, and faculty.

Marina Olegovna Panferova, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, shared her impressions of the test.

“Some of the questions in the test were quite challenging, especially those concerning historical figures, as they required recalling not only their names but also their contribution to the events of the war years. The questions about the siege of Leningrad and Agniya Barto were particularly memorable: few people consider the contribution children's poets made to maintaining people's spirits during difficult times. I believe that today's Dictation is an excellent event for students and all university staff; it unites generations around shared values,” M. O. Panferova shared.

For the third year in a row, Vladimir Ivanovich Grigoryev, Vice-Rector for General Affairs and Digitalization, has emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory by example.

“This Dictation is our historical memory. If we don't remember what happened not so long ago, we won't be able to adequately respond to the challenges we face today. I would like to point out that the test's developers took a thorough approach to its draw up, and, in my opinion, this was entirely appropriate, since to take the dictation, one must know not only the history of the Great Patriotic War but also what is happening today during the Special Military Operation,” Vladimir Ivanovich Grigoryev remarked.

Vice Rector for Financial Affairs Andrey Andreevich Malikov also supported the idea of participating in the event.

“I'm very pleased that our university showed such great interest in today's event. Many students came to take the dictation, and I came along with them. The test itself was interesting, and after taking it, I had an opportunity to study some of the questions in my spare time,” said Andrey Andreyevich Malikov.

Dictation of Victory is not only a test of knowledge, but also a patriotic education of young people. Students of Tula State University told about their participation in the International Historical and Educational Campaign.

– Dictation turned out to be difficult for me this year, some of the questions were difficult. Participation in this campaign is an opportunity for me to touch the history of my country personally. Each question seemed to bring me back to those difficult years, making me relive the pride of my ancestors' feat," said Yelizaveta Suvorova, a third–year student at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“Participating in the Victory Dictation was a meaningful experience for me. It's incredibly valuable that initiatives that bring people together exist and remind us that history isn't something distant, but a part of our lives,” said Valeria Mitronova, a third-year student at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Representatives of the primary branch of the Russian Children's and Youth Movement “Dvizheniye Pervykh” (“Movement of the First”) also joined the event.

Following the event, all participants received certificates. Winners will be invited to the Victory Day Parade in Moscow.

Tatyana Kosenkova

Photographs by Viktoriya Shevchenko