Today, on June 27, the Belarusian National Technical University hosted a solemn ceremony of awarding diplomas and conferring officer ranks on the graduates of the Military Engineering Faculty (METF). More than eighty young officers joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
During the ceremony, the graduates adopted the Code of Honor of an Officer of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, which was read by the graduate of the VTF, Artur Pokatilov. The best graduates were awarded special prizes. For example, the diplomas with honors and gold medals were awarded to the lieutenants Evgenia Dubinina, Nikita Potachin, and Artem Smolsky. Four more young officers received a diploma with honors: Kirill Bortnik, Elizaveta Pivankova, Daniil Turko, and Veronika Tsvetkova.
Deputy Minister of Defense for Armaments, Chief of Armaments of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, Major General Andrey Fedin, addressed the main participants of the event with words of encouragement.
— Remember the oath you took today, which you must uphold during your service, and remember the honor of an officer. These are not empty words; they should become your guiding principles. Remember that time has chosen us. The demand for security in the world is very high. We, the officers, are the backbone of the Belarusian people, ensuring military security. You can see how unstable and alarming the situation in the world is today, and how our closest neighbors are behaving. And you know perfectly well what this could lead to. The army is a tool for waging war as a last resort. In general, the army is a tool that surpasses wars and guarantees military security. I can confidently say that the army has always been and will continue to be an officer's army. When the Head of State interacts with the Minister of Defense, he always emphasizes that the officer is the number one priority in training, education, and implementing the state's policies in the Armed Forces. Very soon, you will arrive at your military units, take up your military positions, and begin to carry out your duties. You have received excellent training that will allow you to perform your tasks brilliantly and exemplarily. I have no doubt about this. I wish you, my dear graduates, to successfully join the ranks of the officer corps, take your rightful place, and not shame your country, your parents, or your university.
In his address to the graduates, Andrey Safonov, Vice-Rector of the Belarusian National Technical University, emphasized the significance of the education they have received and the high responsibility that now rests on the shoulders of the young officers.
— Comrades-officers, today is a significant and important event for all of us. You have received diplomas from the country's leading technical university, the most sought-after education, and your first officer's epaulettes. I would like to emphasize that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have always been, are, and will continue to be the guarantors of peace and development in the Republic of Belarus. I am immensely proud that the Belarusian National Technical University, by training such highly qualified military specialists as you, is successfully addressing this challenge and ensuring the true defense capability and independence of the Republic of Belarus.
In turn, the Head of the Military Training Faculty, Colonel Alexander Talerchik, noted that during the four years of training, the cadets have transformed into true men who are ready to make responsible decisions and carry out tasks of any complexity.
— Today is a landmark event in the life of not only the cadets who studied at the Belarusian National Technical University, but also the parents who supported their sons in choosing the most masculine profession – the defender of their family, people, Homeland. I would like to express my gratitude to the parents for the invaluable support of their children in the learning process. And today, four years later, men are already standing in front of us, not the same as they were sworn in. They are able to make managerial decisions and perform tasks of any complexity.
The graduates were also addressed by the rector of the Orthodox parish of St. Michael the Archangel, Archpriest Igor Galakov, the graduate of the VTF, Elnar Chepelnikov, and the mother of one of the graduates, Karina Aleksanyan.
The creative performances by Nikita Avgustinovich, the winner of the Star TV contest and the graduate of the VTF in 2026, Nadezhda Kobyak, a vocalist from the Love Soul vocal and pop studio of the BNTU Department of Culture, and Nikita Yanovich, a winner of the Star TV contest and a cadet, created a special atmosphere for the event.
The archpriest congratulated the officers on graduating from the university, noted the heroism and honor of the military profession, wished them courage and fortitude, and blessed them on their good path. Graduate Elnar Chepelnikov emphasized that the diplomas and epaulettes they received were a symbol of the state's trust, reminded them of their personal responsibility for people's safety, urged them to uphold their officer's honor, be fair and loyal to their oath, and wished them wise commanders and reliable comrades. Karina Aleksanyan, the mother of a graduate, thanked the faculty's management and teachers for their contribution to the education of the students, encouraged the young officers to be examples of discipline and resilience, and advised female officers to combine femininity with responsibility. She wished them success in their service and a peaceful sky.
We congratulate the graduates of the Military Technical Faculty on this important event, and we wish them successful service, professional growth, and a peaceful sky. May your knowledge, loyalty to your homeland, and responsibility always serve as a reliable foundation for our country.
