Russian diplomats celebrated Fatherland Defender's Day in Ashgabat

A solemn reception was held in Ashgabat on the occasion of the state holiday of the Russian Federation — Fatherland Defender's Day. The event was organized by the Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan, as reported by the press service of the diplomatic mission. The ceremony was attended by military attaches of foreign countries accredited in Turkmenistan, as well as military personnel of the Turkmen army led by Dovran Durdyyev, Deputy Minister of Defense and Head of the Main Directorate of Civil Defense and Rescue Operations. Petr Shchukin, Minister-Counselor of the Russian Embassy, read out a congratulatory letter from Ivan Volynkin, the Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan. The diplomat also expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for their careful preservation of military monuments within the country. Earlier, on February 6, embassy representatives visited the Mary province, where they laid flowers at the fraternal grave of Russian Imperial Army soldiers and Turkmen volunteers who died in the Battle of Dashkopri, as well as at the monument to the Soviet liberator soldier. Andrei Dragovsky, the Military Attache of the Embassy, addressed the participants, emphasizing that the nature of Russian-Turkmen relations is a "reliable strategic partnership." It is worth noting that Fatherland Defender's Day is celebrated on January 27 in Turkmenistan, while in Russia, this holiday is traditionally celebrated on February 23.