Holidays of Russia - Day of the Government Communications Troops

Every year on February 15th the Day of the Government Communications Troops, abbreviated as UPS, is celebrated. They were first created during the Second World War. The UPU had its baptism of fire on the Kursk Bulge, where they provided communications to command posts of armies and fronts, and also participated in defensive battles with sappers, tank crews, and infantrymen. More than 20 thousand military personnel were awarded the highest awards for their courage and military valor. The importance of government communications troops was mentioned more than once in the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. They have repeatedly taken part in “hot spots”, man-made disasters, and natural disasters. There are a lot of good reviews about the quality of their work written by P.I. Batov, I.S. Konev. And this, by the way, is the only type of troops where field operations, even in times of peace, are directly a combat mission in their main purpose. These troops are affectionately called “signals.” It was they who, at the end of the Second World War, built and also restored communication lines in the Crimea, the Black Sea coast, the North Caucasus, Astrakhan and Stalingrad. These troops carry out their combat missions in places where there are no fixed networks or they are completely destroyed. Nowadays, of course, life dictates completely different conditions. And the personnel are assigned quite difficult tasks. In the foreground is the mobility of field communications, as well as digital forms of information transfer. On this day, those who serve in the government communications troops are honored. Also, annually on February 15, tribute is paid to those who performed their military duty at the cost of their lives. On this day in Moscow, it is customary to lay flowers and wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as other places in Russia associated with the memory of departed soldiers. In St. Petersburg, commemorative events are organized at the monument to St. Petersburg residents of those who gave their lives while fulfilling their international duty, located in Kupchino. On this day, war veterans and disabled people are not forgotten. Soldiers' widows are remembered, as well as the children of heroes. After all, they are the most important keepers of the memory of the departed, who know the history of those events first-hand. In many Russian cities, ceremonial events, actions, and rallies are organized, where combat veterans, government officials and the public directly participate.