Approximately 400 Tomsk medical professionals marched in the Immortal Regiment column on May 9th.
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TOMSK, MAY 12 - RIA Tomsk. Over 400 medical workers from institutions across Tomsk region, including professors and students of the Siberian State Medical University (SibSMU), joined the Immortal Regiment march in Tomsk on May 9, according to the press service of the Tomsk health department.
Previously, it was reported that the on-site Immortal Regiment march in Tomsk on May 9 took place for the first time since 2022 after being canceled in 2023 and 2024 due to safety concerns. In previous years, the event gathering anywhere from several to tens of thousands of participants. This year, approximately 45,000 people joined the march.
"This year, around 400 medical workers from healthcare institutions under the auspices of the Tomsk health department, along with their leaders, teachers, and students from SibSMU, participated in the solemn Immortal Regiment march (May 9). Participants marched in white robes, George ribbons, bouquets, and portraits of their heroes", the statement says.
Backstory: Hospitals that Treated Soldiers in Tomsk during 1941-1945
While today we remember heroes of the past, we continue their legacy. Medical workers have always been, and remain, at the forefront of the fight for health and life. Participating in the Immortal Regiment is our opportunity to express gratitude to those who gave their strength and life to save others", Tomsk health department head Robert Fidarov is quoted as saying.
Previously, it was reported that the Immortal Regiment event was first held in Tomsk in 2012 under the initiative of local journalists. On Victory Day, citizens marched alongside portraits of their frontline relatives. Since then, the movement gained support from millions of residents of various regions and countries. Additionally, moypolk.ru has been operational since 2012, with web pages dedicated to preserving the legacy of Great Patriotic War veterans. On May 9, 2025, the site welcomed its millionth page.
During the Great Patriotic War, Tomsk played a vital role as a treatment hub for soldiers evacuated from the front lines. Demonstrating the commitment of the medical staff, these heroes worked tirelessly to provide aid to injured and ill soldiers. The specific details of the government hospitals where the treatment occurred are not clearly documented in the provided sources. However, given the strategic importance of Tomsk and the presence of other medical facilities in Siberian cities during the war, it could be inferred that these institutions would have played a crucial part in the overall Soviet military medical system.
As a rear-echelon city with developed infrastructure, Tomsk's medical facilities provided essential support, including surgery, convalescence, and rehabilitation services, for soldiers returning from the front. Records on the exact number and name of hospitals in Tomsk during the war are not widely available. Yet historically, during World War II, cities like Tomsk became key centers for receiving and treating soldiers evacuated from the Western and Southern fronts, serving as rear-echelon treatment centers in the extensive Soviet military hospital network.
- The medical workers' participation in the Immortal Regiment march serves as a testament to the ongoing legacy of health and wellness professionals in the face of historical conflicts, similar to their role during World War II when Tomsk served as a vital treatment hub for soldiers.
- In light of political uncertainties (referring to canceled Immortal Regiment marches due to safety concerns in 2023 and 2024), it is essential to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of medical personnel towards general news stories, such as personal narratives associated with medical-conditions and the Immortal Regiment event, as well as broader society and science, often intertwined in discussions about health and wellness.
