Penza, 1 December 2017. PenzaNews. A regional gathering of search teams was organized in the Penza region for the first time at the initiative of the governor Ivan Belozertsev and the main federal inspector Dmitry Kadenkov.

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The event, which started in the House of Youth in the morning on Friday, December 1, united eight search teams established in the region, these are "Poisk-vezdekhod", "Sapsan", "Penzaenergo", "Krepost", "Kombat", "Burtasy", "Pamyat i dolg", and "Rosgosstrakh".

Guests of the gathering had an opportunity to find out more about teams' activities by visiting an exhibition.

As it was explained by the fighter of the team "Poisk-vezdekhod" Konstantin Krivulin, in 2017 the most interesting finding was a storm trooper Su-2 shot down in 1941, which is presented at the display.

"Near the aircraft we found remains of the navigator. [...] It was the first case in the history of 'Poisk-vezdekhod' when we discovered a plane," he noted.

Within an official part of the gathering, the team of the Penza region showed a short performance, which had previously been showed at the third gathering of search teams of the Volga Federal District.

Greeting those present, the deputy head of Professional Education and Youth Politics Department of the regional Ministry of Education Alexander Bochkarev noted the significance of the event.

"The main objective of the gathering is to create conditions for expanding the promotion of search movement among young people, to identify and spread the best practices, to coordinate activities," he said.

Alexander Bochkarev added that as a result of the event, suggestions on further development of the search movement in the region will be formulated.

In turn, the chairperson of the regional department of the Search Movement of Russia Larisa Kazakova presented a report on activities in the year 2017.

"There are eight search teams in the Penza region. [...] Currently, the number of fighters in the region equals to 153 people. We are steadily increasing the number while at the same time keeping it real without making it too large," she said.

Larisa Kazakova ordered not to judge activities of the search teams by the number of fighters' remains they managed to find.

"It's totally wrong. We are always glad to find remains of a soldier and hope to identify their names. However, if a team went on an expedition and did not find any remains, it does not meant it did not work there," she emphasized.

Larisa Kazakova added that the remains of 195 fighters had been discovered in the current season, with six names determined.

During the event, representatives of the movement who distinguished themselves were awarded, and the teams received equipment that will help them on expeditions.