Aleksandr Lukashenko attends 3rd firewood chopping championship for reporters

During the third firewood chopping championship for reporters Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko presented an axe of Belarusian make.

Right upon arrival the head of state hosted a master class on firewood chopping.

Aleksandr Lukashenko explained his approach by saying: “You need to choose an appropriate axe in order to chop firewood. After you choose an axe, you have to look at the log. If you see a crack, you have to hit this crack with your axe. Nature chooses weaker fibers. It will be easier to split the log here. You shouldn’t rush the chopping process. It is very important to look at the point you want to hit with your axe.” As a result, huge and heavy wood chunks fell apart after literally a couple of hits and seemingly without obvious effort. Although, of course, the accomplishment requires not only years of experience but considerable physical strength.

The President demonstrated several axes that he uses for chopping firewood and presented an axe of Belarusian make. In his words, the axe turned out to be quite good. It is a bit heavier than imports. It may be an advantage when a heavy chunk of wood needs to be dealt with. This is why many participants of the master class, to whom the President showed his skills, resorted to Belarusian axes. A number of government officials were present. The head of state reminded them about the instruction he gave during a working trip to Orsha in May 2024.

Back then the President examined the first few samples of modern Belarusian axes that had been made upon his instructions. However, according to the President, the final product was not very good. Aleksandr Lukashenko gave no-nonsense instructions to polish the axe and start the production of the goods needed to work with timber within this year. Back then the head of state noted that it is shameful for Belarus not to have quality equipment and goods for working with timber considering the fact that half of the country is covered by forests. Considerable financial resources are spent on importing the necessary equipment, vehicles, and tools. The President stressed that everything the timber industry needs must be made in the country.

The President recalled his instruction today: “Back in Orsha I gave instructions to make everything for the timber industry. Which means you should gather the people, who were there, and demand [everything from them] starting with axes and ending with chainsaws.”

People accompanying the President also took part in the firewood chopping process, including the President’s Press Secretary Natalya Eismont, the senator Dmitry Baskov, and other ones. “I want people to understand that there are no lazy people near me,” the head of state remarked. He closely watched the process, helping participants of the master class to not only achieve results by splitting chunks of wood but to do it as fast as possible while taking into account minor details that are hard to spot at first glance. For instance, not everyone knows that it is necessary to chop logs into quite large chunks that will burn for longer.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that anyone can learn how to chop firewood. In his words, chopping up firewood is quite a good form of physical exercise. This is why when the head of state invited spectators to try their hand at firewood chopping, plenty of people came forth. Particularly women. Aleksandr Lukashenko praised those, who were lucky to be selected for the master class on firewood chopping the Presidential way, by saying: “Well done.”

The head of state also visited the venues where competitions were taking place. He talked to some representatives of reporter teams, including teams of foreign mass media. Certainly, requests for taking a picture with the President were common during such mass events.