Soviet Lieutenant General talks about the fight to protect the northern border

Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko enthusiastically talks about each photo. Photo: Hong Quan/VNA

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Battle to Protect the Northern Border (February 17, 1979 - February 17, 2019), a VNA correspondent based in the Russian Federation had a conversation with Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko, one of the first Soviet experts to come to help Vietnam right when the battle to protect the Fatherland had just begun, to better understand the Soviet Union's assistance to Vietnam, as well as the righteousness of the battle that our army and people waged exactly 40 years ago.

Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko affirmed that he always kept memories of Vietnam. In February 1979, he was assigned a new task, joining a group of experts and military advisors sent by the Soviet Government to Vietnam - at Vietnam's request - to help the Vietnamese people carry out the fight to protect the northern border.

At that time, he was a member of the first group of Soviet military experts and advisors to come to Vietnam. Before coming to Vietnam, he learned about the history, country, character and spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko affirmed that Vietnam and the Soviet Union have a long-standing traditional friendship. The Soviet people always sympathize and share the material and spiritual difficulties of the Vietnamese people in the fight against imperialist invaders. Therefore, the Soviet people once again stand by Vietnam in the fight to protect the northern border of the Fatherland.

Mr. and Mrs. Ivashko sadly look back at each photo they have kept for nearly 40 years. Photo: Hong Quan/VNA

The Soviet Union provided comprehensive support to Vietnam in this fight to protect its sovereignty. Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko assessed that the soldiers of the Vietnamese People's Army were very intelligent, quickly grasping and effectively applying new military knowledge and techniques.

Despite the very difficult and deprived conditions, Soviet experts and advisors always tried to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Vietnamese army and people in their just struggle. The Soviet Union also helped Vietnam on the diplomatic front, mobilizing the support of the international community for the fight to defend the Fatherland of the Vietnamese army and people.

He affirmed that despite the hardships, Soviet experts felt very proud to have contributed their efforts to help the Vietnamese people.

Mr. and Mrs. Ivashko introduce a valuable book about President Ho. Photo: Hong Quan/VNA

Lieutenant General Porfiry Ivashko expressed his sympathy for the Vietnamese people who had to endure a long struggle against the US imperialists. He said he had witnessed with his own eyes the Vietnamese victims affected by napalm bombs. He affirmed that the Soviet Union always supported the just struggle of the Vietnamese people to protect their country's independence./.