News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko’s advice to single girls and what wood chopping has to do with it. A story of unique competition

The day before the visit to Uzbekistan for the SCO summit Aleksandr Lukashenko chopped wood together with businessman Sergei Teterin. This video went viral in the autumn of 2022. The winter was coming, gas prices were rising. As the winter was setting in, Europeans were increasingly wary of the energy crisis. Indeed, the sanctions policy has such an unsightly, boomerang side. Less than two months after the video, a new tradition sprang up in Belarus: to hold a firewood chopping challenge among media outlets. Journalists proposed the idea, the president supported it. In this episode of BelTA’s YouTube project “After the Fact: Lukashenko’s Decisions” we will tell you what tip the president gave to girls choosing a husband. Did Lukashenko appreciate the Belarusian-made axe? What were the guests treated to at the firewood chopping challenge this year?

First wood chopping challenge among journalists

The place for the challenge was picturesque. The shore of the Vyacha reservoir. Twenty-two teams took part in the first event. Aleksandr Lukashenko conducted a workshop for media workers.

“We look for a split. We keep our eyes on the point where we want to axe. Well done! A round of applause, please! I hope most of the participants will be as good,” the head of said gave directions to the participants during the workshop.

The president not only showed how to chop firewood but also appreciated the efforts of the participants. He gave valuable advice to some, praised others. This was worth a lot. In 2022, the president shared both useful tips and personal stories.

Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why dry wood should be cut in large pieces  and told a story from his life. “I remember the time when I came to visit my mother when she lived near Minsk. You know, villagers are very thrifty people.I would chop wood for her. And she would complain I chopped ‘matches’ that burn quickly. Bigger logs burn for a long time. If the firewood is damp, like this birch, you need to chop into smaller logs. This way they will dry faster. Firewood must be dry,” the president added.

Foods served at the festival and Lukashenko’s favorite

After physical exercise outdoors, everyone has a good appetite. Chef Leonid Magdalov woke up famous after the first firewood chopping challenge where the Belarusian president praised his shashlik. According to the chef, he has not changed the shashlik recipe since the first firewood chopping challenge. And he doesn't plan to. He says that there are no secret ingredients or techniques in the dish.

Leonid Magdalov recalls that he was absolutely calm and composed when the president approached him. “When I am at work, I am super focused. The principle of public catering that I learned from childhood says that everyone is equal in a cafeteria and in a bathhouse. When you cook food, you should do it well for any guest,” the chef remarked.

The firewood chopping challenge was proceeding in a festive atmosphere. People were having fun, music was playing. Leonid Magdalov didn't even notice the moment when the president came up. “When they started asking questions, I answered straightforwardly, genuinely. I would have never thought that something like this could happen. After it was shown in the media, people started recognizing me, of course. Probably every second passer-by would ask: was it you? - Yes, it was me,” he said.

This year, there were treats, too. From pickles to baked game. The smells distracted the participants from working and the fans from chanting.

“A deer is being cooked on a spit. The guys started marinating it yesterday. Now it's simmering. The meat will be very juicy. Here is Uzbek pilaf. We know that there are more than a hundred types of pilaf in Uzbekistan. This is a classic pilaf. Shakshuka is being cooked in this large fifty-meter frying pan. Minced meat, juicy tomatoes and eggs. The eggs will look like fried eggs or even poached eggs," cook Vasily Lesik said presenting his dish.

Lukashenko’s feedback on Belarus-made axe

The president also visited the third firewood chopping challenge. He gave a master class and some good advice to unmarried girls.

“After choosing an axe, check the block. Pay attention to it, this concerns girls, first of all, as they need to marry the right guys. You should always chop slowly. Exhale and inhale keeping you eyes on the block. Here is a crack. You must chop along this crack. Nature has showed you where fibers are weak. You should be guided by this,” the head of state said.

By the way, this year Aleksandr Lukashenko chopped wood with a Belarusian axe. The president praised the tool.

“We chopped it in half. No need to throw it down, because you have to bend over and pick it up. Now we start chopping it into pieces. Look, we hit it from the very edge. To the bottom point, towards ourselves. Then it will fall apart. That's it. We can still chop it in half,” the Belarusian leader said.

“I want to note that the president is holding a Belarusian-made axe,” the host of the festival remarked.

“Belarus-made! I rarely praise them. But this one is more or less good. But it still needs improvements,” the president emphasized.

What will BelTA’s team remember about the competition?

Thirty-four teams came to the bank of the Vyacha reservoir to compete in the wood chopping challenge this year. More than 100 people from all over the country joined the event. Here it does not matter what your professional responsibilities are: story editing, text writing or video shooting. Even the participants of beauty pageants take an axe in their hands here.

BelTA’s team was among the participants this year as well. It was the third event for Natalya Yeremich, the head of the internet support and development department. She did not miss a single event.

“We did some training ahead of the competition. Yet, I think it was not a thorough preparation. In order to do something well, you have to practice all the time. Irregular practice cannot secure a satisfying result. I have some experience in wood splitting thanks to my rural upbringing. Someone may find it insignificant, but... You may have noticed that I was still spinning the block while everyone had already started chopping. I did not even notice that the competition had started because my block was standing lopsided. The terrain is uneven here. The block is diagonal from you, which makes it difficult to chop,” Natalya Yeremich said.

“The mood is great. The atmosphere is incredible here! This is a great opportunity to spend time with your colleagues, get to know each other better in a more relaxed environment. It is an opportunity to socialize, to root for your coworkers, to support them. Thank you very much for the opportunity to participate in today’s event and cheer for our team,” Marta Olkhovskaya, head of the advertisement and marketing department at BelTA, said.

The event featured a number of competitions: firewood chopping, log chopping in two, president-style chopping and a relay race. Test of Strength was a new contest this year. Women competed in splitting a block into two parts with a cast iron frying pan. Fans, in turn, competed in supporting their coworkers with the best posters, chants, and loudest applause.

“The wood chopping challenge is always a great fun for me. This is the third time I have taken part in it. I get unforgettable impressions every time I come here. Both participants and fans have fun. Everyone enjoys the president’s workshops. When I was a kid, I loved chopping wood. Since then, wood chopping has been an occasional thing for me. Those occasions are very few today, as I live in the city. I have no country house. Today every time I get such an opportunity, I make use of it of course. Yet, I cannot do it so professionally as the president, or the participants of the competition,”  Aleksei Gorbunov, editorial columnist of the 7 Dnei newspaper, said.

Where does firewood go once the competition is over?

The wood chopping challenge gave rise to another tradition - to donate firewood to those who need it. Sharing is a very Belarusian thing.

“Every state has its traditions. Today’s outdoor meeting with these strongest people (and these are farmers and foresters, and they are very strong people) will surely keep us charged for a long time,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the first edition of the wood chopping challenge.