Twenty-two population centres across Belarus have been awarded the gonfalon ‘For the Valour and Sturdiness in the Years of the Great Patriotic War’ in connection with the upcoming 65^th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders and with a view to commemorating the feats of arms performed by the Red Army soldiers, workers, partisans, and members of underground organisations in defending and liberating Belarusian towns and other population centres. The related Decree was signed by Alexander Lukashenko on 29 June.

In recognition of the valour and sturdiness displayed by the defenders of Belarusian towns and other population centres, the gonfalon has been awarded to the towns of Brest, Bobruisk, Borisov, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Zhlobin, Zaslavl, Klichev, Krichev, Lida, Minsk, Mogilev, Molodechno, Orsha, Polotsk, Skidel; to the urban-type population centres of Begoml, Loyev, Oktyabrsky (Karpilovka), Ushachi, and to the village of Ostroshitsky Gorodok.