Russian military planes crash in Ledurga and Zvārde landfill
At the beginning of 1992, two Soviet Mig-27 D planes crashed on one day in mysterious circumstances with an interval of 40 minutes in Ledurga and Zvārde landfill.
On March 25, 1992, due to unknown circumstances, two Russian MIG-27D fighters, manufactured during the Soviet era, crashed during a training flight from the Russian army aviation stationed in Lielvārde.
regiment and "disappeared".
The planes crashed 40 minutes apart. One fighter crashed at the Zvārde landfill, the other at the Aijažu lake near Lēdurga. The pilots of both planes died.
Regarding the Ledurga disaster, eyewitnesses say that explosions were heard in Ledurga, which could mean that the Ledurga plane was in full combat equipment, i.e. with missiles, which was technically not allowed at that time.
Fragments of airplane tails were installed at the crash sites of both planes, but during the scrap metal "boom" of the 1990s, metal plane fragments - tails "disappeared" in both places.
Relatives of the deceased pilot from Ukraine visited the crash site in Ledurga.
https://replay.lsm.lv/lv/ieraksts/ltv/285472/tas-notika-seit-4sezona-ledurga
Diena, No. 56 (26.03.1992) (periodika.lv)
periodika.lv/periodika2-viewer/?lang=fr#panel:pa|issue:236737|article:DIVL101|query:Zvārdes%20polygon%20and%20Lēdurga%20
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Soviet Army Observation Tower (Kurgan of Officers)
The "Officers' Kurgan" is located less than a kilometre from the ruins of Zvārde Church. The Kurgan is made of the ruins and remains of the surrounding houses and manor house, which have been bulldozed together. An observation tower was built on the kurgan. According to the inscription, the present tower was built in 1981. The tower was used to record bomb hits. The training bombs had a reduced explosive content, so their hits had to be watched more carefully. Unexploded bombs were neutralized immediately, but not all could be found.
The remains of the tower can be seen here today - the brick walls. As the barrage is relatively high, you can even see the Lithuanian oil refinery in Mažeikiai on a clear day.
Soviet air force target firing ground in Zvārde
Zvārde landfill is located in Zvārde municipality, Saldus region. It is a former military aviation training ground of the USSR, covering more than 24 000 hectares.
The territory of the former airfield is home to several sites: the Officers' Kurgan, the ruins of the Zvārde and Ķērkliņi churches, the Rīteļi cemetery, the former army base "Lapsas", and others. Until the Second World War, the site of the observation tower was home to the "Vairogi" house. During the construction of the polygon, what was left of the farm - walls, the remains of the apple orchard, and part of the ruins of the Veczvārde manor - was piled together to form a mound and the observation tower was built on it. It was used as an observation point for coordinating the army's training manoeuvres. This place is popularly known as Kurgan. The mound overlooks the former training ground and the wooded areas of Zvārde Nature Park and Nature Reserve. A good place for bird watching. The surroundings of Kurgāns are not landscaped.
Riteli kalmistu
Pärast seda, kui 1953. aastal rajati selles piirkonnas NSVLi kaitseministeeriumi palvel lennuväli, asusid Zvārde kirik, Ķerkliņi kirik ja Rīteļi kalmistu tegelikult lennuvälja keskel - kunstliku lennuvälja kõrval koos juurdepääsuteede ja kaitsepositsioonidega, mida nõukogude piloodid kasutasid sihtmärgina. Lennukid lendasid siia Lätis ja mujal Nõukogude Liidus asuvatelt lennuväljadelt. Vähem kui 40 aastaga lagunesid kirik, kalmistu, endine mõisahoone ja kümned ümbritsevad hooned. Tänapäeval hooldab seda paika Salduse Martin Lutheri kirik. Ümbritsev ala on ikka veel saastunud lõhkemata lahingumoonaga ja teede ääres võib olla ohtlik kõndida.
Barbaarsus saavutas haripunkti 1988. aastal, kui Rīteļi kalmistu koos haudade ja mälestusmärkidega buldooseriti.
21. juulil 1990 toimus Salduses üks esimesi aktsioone, kus Läti elanikkond nõudis NSV Liidu armee lahkumist Zvārde territooriumilt, ning seejärel läksid inimesed Rīteļi kalmistule. Meeleavaldusel osalejad lubati prügimäele, kus nad koristasid veidi kalmistut ja kaevasid valgeid riste.
Prügilat kasutati kuni 1992. aastani ja veel 1992. aasta märtsis kukkus Lielvārdest startiv lennuk teadmata põhjustel prügilasse. Läti kaitsevägi alustas 1993. aasta mais, pärast Vene armee väljaviimist, ala demineerimist. 2008. aastal paigaldasid Zvārde elanikud Rīteļi kalmistule mälestuskivi "Andke meile andeks, et me ei...".
