Island of Tears
The Island of Tears (Ostrov Slyoz), officially the Island of Courage and Sorrow, is a poignant memorial on a small artificial island in the Svislach River. Unveiled in 1996, it commemorates the 771 Belarusian soldiers who died in the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989). At its heart stands a chapel surrounded by haunting bronze statues of grieving mothers, sisters, and wives. A weeping angel sculpture symbolizes the inability to protect the fallen. The island itself represents a teardrop, while the chapels five domes signify the five combat zones in Afghanistan.
