The festival of young patriots "In the Footsteps of Victory" took place in the DPR with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      On May 14, 2026, at 14:49, Society In Khartsyzsk, Donetsk People's Republic, a patriotic festival "In the Footsteps of Victory" took place. It was organized by schoolchildren - a team from the "Intellect" lyceum from the DPR, whose project won the first season of the acceleration program "Homeland." The program was organized by the House of National Unity and the regional resource center of the "Navigators of Childhood" project with the support of the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region and the national project "Youth and Children."

      The "Homeland" program in 2025 brought together more than 500 schoolchildren and students from the Nizhny Novgorod region and two cities in the DPR. Throughout the year, participants learned social project design, prepared ideas, and brought them to life. The program included a municipal stage, an online marathon, and a two-day regional gathering with project presentations. The best initiatives were supported by the House of National Unity.

      "The 'Homeland' accelerator was created so that ideas do not remain on paper. The project of the 'Intellect' lyceum impressed experts with its depth and interactivity. The festival 'In the Footsteps of Victory' is not about the past; it is about our common future. I am glad that it truly united the schools of Khartsyzsk," said the head of the House of National Unity, Sergey Fyodorov.

      The event, timed to coincide with the 81st anniversary of the Great Victory and the conclusion of the History Week for schoolchildren in the city, gathered teams from the schools of Khartsyzsk in one place. Schoolchildren learned more about the heroes from Donbas and key events of the Great Patriotic War. Teams completed practical tasks at interactive stations: deciphered Morse code, guessed songs from the war years, made postcards, and learned about military equipment.

      "The festival showed the main thing: our children are not just heirs of Victory but its active continuers. It is nice that the initiative of the lyceum united the schools of Khartsyzsk, and the support from the Nizhny Novgorod region gave the kids confidence in their abilities. I am sure that the festival 'In the Footsteps of Victory' will become a good tradition and will be held next year," shared Tatiana Akimova, director of the "Intellect" lyceum in Khartsyzsk.

      The organization of the festival was supported by specialists from the House of National Unity and volunteers from Nizhny Novgorod. Together with activists from the People's Guard, the First Movement, schoolchildren, and teachers, participants honored the memory of heroes and recalled the feats of their ancestors.

      "With the help of the accelerator, we learned as a team to independently create projects and organized the festival in Khartsyzsk this year. I really liked this program. I think that in the future I will engage in social project design," said Margarita Dementyeva, a student of the lyceum.

      Let us remind you that since 2025, a national project "Youth and Children" has been in effect in Russia by the order of President Vladimir Putin, which fulfills tasks previously outlined in the national projects "Education," "Science and Universities." The national project aims to create opportunities for the development of talents and self-realization of young people, fostering a responsible and highly moral individual. At the center of the national project are the construction and renovation of schools, upgrading teachers' qualifications, creating new teaching methods, and comfortable learning conditions. Special attention is paid to supporting talented youth, including young specialists. The national project includes nine federal projects and programs: "Russia - a Land of Opportunities," "We Are Together," "Russia in the World," "All the Best for Children," "Leading Schools," "Teachers and Mentors," "Creating a Network of Modern Campuses," "Universities for the Generation of Leaders," "Professionalism." The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.