President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends.
Today, on the eve of Teachers’ Day, we honour the teachers and mentors who have raised the heroes of our country.
Your students, Russian Army officers, have honourably passed the most important exam on loyalty to the Motherland. In the course of the special military operation, they have shown courage and bravery, defending our country’s national interests, freedom, statehood, and sovereignty.
The Medal of the Order For Service to the Fatherland, II degree, was awarded to Oleg Plesovskikh, a history teacher at the Ilyinskaya School in the Tyumen Region. A talented teacher, he had a truly strong and profound influence on the worldview of his students. Viktor Kvasov became a recipient of three Orders of Courage, and Zhumabay Raizov received the title of a Hero of Russia. This high title was awarded to him posthumously. Eternal memory to your student. Eternal memory to all the heroes who gave their lives defending the Motherland.
Our meeting is taking place on the eve of Teachers’ Day. And therefore, of course, we honour teachers. But I cannot fail to mention something else. We must never forget – and we never will – that the very foundations of the character and worldview of our heroes were instilled in them by their families, their parents. They deserve our deepest respect.
Friends, the high award For Mentorship has been conferred upon Svetlana Stepanova. Before retirement, she worked as a teacher of Russian language and literature in Penza and always paid great attention to patriotic education.
Her special pride is her student, Artyom Nikolayev, recipient of two Orders of Courage, two Medals For Bravery, and the Nesterov Medal. The hero completed 130 combat sorties in the special military operation zone. Now, Artyom is getting ready to serve the country in a new capacity in the Government of the Penza Region.
Nikolai Sergiyenko, recipient of two Orders of Courage, the Medal For Bravery, and the Suvorov Medal, considers his first teacher at the Omsk Lyceum, Tatyana Timkina, to be his main mentor. Today, Tatyana Timkina is working in a regional veterans’ organisation, teaching young people to be responsible for the fate of their native country. Today, she, too, will be awarded the badge of merit For Mentorship.
The honorary title Honoured Worker of Physical Fitness of the Russian Federation has been conferred upon Director of the Bastion Sports School in Vladivostok Vyacheslav Ivanov. Among his trainees are winners and prizewinners of world and Russian championships. One of his students, Sergei Kuzminchuk, became a Russian Army officer and was awarded the Gold Star of the Hero of Russia for participation in the special military operation.
The honorary title Honoured Teacher of the Russian Federation has been awarded to teacher of the Russian language and literature from Pskov Svetlana Magera. Among her outstanding students is the recipient of the Suvorov Medal Maria Musatova, who from the very first days of the special military operation has been helping our servicemen.
The title of Honoured Teacher of Russia was also awarded to Zoya Nikitina from the Tikhvin District, Leningrad Region. Over 35 years of her work, she has been passing on to her students knowledge, life wisdom, and love for the Motherland. Her student, Anton Shorokhov, a recipient of the Order of Courage and the Suvorov Medal, is one of the participants of the Time of Heroes programme.
To reiterate, the purpose of this programme is to ensure that our servicemen, who have gone through the special military operation, continue their path of service to the Fatherland and work, as Vladimir Vysotsky once said, on the “peaceful frontline,” primarily, federal and municipal administration.
I am convinced that in civilian life as well, your students will live up to the tasks entrusted to them.
Once again, I congratulate all the participants of today’s meeting on their high awards and on the upcoming Teachers’ Day. I wish you continued success for the benefit of the Motherland. Thank you very much.
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Vladimir Putin: Friends,
A few words in closing.
The strength of Russia lies in its distinctive and sovereign education system.
We know well that back in the days of the Great Patriotic War, our enemy also mentioned this with regret, admitting that victory was forged by our teachers and, one could also say, by spiritual education provided by our spiritual mentors, but victory was forged in school.
Teachers who are wholeheartedly devoted to their calling, their people, and their country, have led Russia forward in every historical era, serving as a moral beacon for generations of Russians, raising honourable students who won decisive victories in battles and achieved outstanding accomplishments in science, sport, and art.
You and your colleagues continue the great traditions of Russian pedagogy, and without exaggeration, you preserve the civilisational uniqueness of our country, its sovereignty, and its strong standing in a complex and fast-changing world.
Once again, I congratulate all teachers of Russia on the upcoming professional holiday – Teachers’ Day – and you, friends, on your well-deserved awards.
I am pleased to invite you to the gala concert dedicated to the opening of this wonderful Concert Hall and the event marking the 10th anniversary of Sirius.
Thank you, and my congratulations once again. Thank you very much.