On April 7, in the assembly hall of the ZKITU academic building at 44 M. Ikhsanov Street, for 1st–2nd year students of the Institute of Sectoral Technologies (IST), the Compliance Service held an event on the eve of the state holidays of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Defender of the Fatherland Day and Victory Day — on the topic: “Defending the Motherland is the Constitutional Duty of Every Citizen.”

This event was organized for the purpose of military-patriotic education of students in cooperation with officers of the military department of Zhangir Khan ZKATU within the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation with our university.

The moderator of the event, IST Compliance Officer, retired police colonel, Associate Professor of the Department of Law, Candidate of Legal Sciences Rakhmetov T.K., introduced the guests: retired Major Morugov A.V., Head of the Cycle of Special Disciplines, and retired Major Musakov E.T., Head of the Academic Unit of the Military Department, as well as faculty members of the Compliance Service, staff of the HR department, our students, and five students currently studying at the military department of Zhangir Khan ZKATU.

Rakhmetov T.K. noted that in the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Article 2, paragraph 2 states: “The sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan extends over its entire territory. The state ensures the integrity, inviolability, and inalienability of its territory.” Today, the geopolitical situation in the world is changing and remains unstable. Military conflicts between states over territory and natural resources are taking place, and norms of international law are being violated. Article 36 of the Constitution states: “The defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the sacred duty of every citizen. Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan perform military service in the manner and forms established by law.”

Our independent state has modern armed forces that honor and preserve the military traditions of older generations. The victory in the Great Patriotic War came at a tremendous cost to the Soviet people and its army — more than 27 million lives were lost. These are the highest losses among all countries that participated in the Second World War. More than 1,200,000 soldiers and officers from Kazakhstan were drafted into the front — that is every fifth citizen of the country and about 70% of the male population. More than 400,000 of our compatriots did not return from the war.

The heroism of our compatriots — Heroes of the Soviet Union such as B. Momyshuly, A. Moldagulova, M. Mametova, as well as People’s Hero Kh. Dospanova and many others — will forever remain in history. Around 500 soldiers and officers from Kazakhstan were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. The contribution of home front workers, who labored under the slogan “Everything for the Front, Everything for Victory!”, is also invaluable. The West Kazakhstan Region was a frontline area of the Stalingrad Front, and the legendary 65th Army under the command of Chuikov, which played a key role in the Battle of Stalingrad, consisted of more than 50% Kazakh soldiers.

During the event, a report on Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, who became famous during the defense of Moscow in 1941 as part of the legendary 316th Panfilov Division formed from soldiers of Central Asia, was presented by IST Compliance Service member, Senior Lecturer of the Department of General Humanities, Master of Pedagogical Sciences Kalenova Zh.M. A film about the hero was also shown.

In addition, a video address by a participant of the Great Patriotic War, a participant of the 1945 Victory Parade in Moscow, People’s Hero, resident of Uralsk, and veteran of the prosecutor’s office, Gapich Ivan Stepanovich, who recently turned 103 years old, was presented.

Officers of the military department of ZKATU introduced students to the modern Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, types of troops, and their functions. They also provided detailed information about the department’s activities, equipment, and teaching staff. Video materials on the topic were shown. Currently, 47 students of ZKITU are studying at the military department. The officers also explained the admission procedure and requirements for applicants.

A 3rd-year Law student, Maria Dontsova, who is currently studying at the military department’s officer courses, shared her experience in studying the military specialty of communications and encouraged students to apply.

As a result of the event, 17 IST students submitted applications to participate in the selection process for admission to the military department of ZKATU for the next academic year. This demonstrates a high level of patriotism and responsibility among our students.

At the end of the event, moderator Rakhmetov T.K. congratulated all participants on the upcoming Defender of the Fatherland Day and Victory Day, thanked the guests and participants for their active involvement in this meaningful and informative event, and wished the guests success in their service and the students success in their studies and readiness to defend the Motherland.