Two distinct cultural themes come together in Novyja Zasimavičy: sacred architecture and the history of military aviation. The active Orthodox church, traditional stained glass and aviation-history memorials offer different cultural and historical perspectives. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the active religious building, the Mi-24 monument and the former Mi-2 memorial site.

Church of the Icon “Unexpected Joy”

An Orthodox parish dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” belongs to the Brest Diocese in Novyja Zasimavičy. The active church dedicated to this icon is a five-domed brick building in the Russian Neoclassical style. Its architectural features include a cruciform layout and a vaulted ceiling; inside is a two-tier oak iconostasis. The building thus brings together a distinctive style, layout and interior furnishings.

Stained glass in the region

On 20 March 2023, traditional stained glass in the town of Bereza, in Sporava and Stryhin in Bereza District, and in the town of Pruzhany, in Slabudka and in Novyja Zasimavičy in Pruzhany District was granted the status of a historical and cultural value. Across the broader travel destination of Brest Region, this tradition, widespread in Pruzhany and Bereza districts, developed from the second half of the 19th century. Its range of motifs includes religious images, decorative ornaments, scenic compositions, landscapes and fairy-tale motifs. The imagery thus ranges from sacred depictions to scenes and narrative motifs.

Aviation history: Mi-24 and Mi-2

An Mi-24-type aviation monument is located in the military settlement of Novyja Zasimavičy. The Mi-24V memorial helicopter bears the factory number 3532421014161 and the white onboard number “01”. The memorial was created with the direct involvement of military personnel and employees of the 181st Combat Helicopter Base. The markings identify the aircraft being commemorated, while the history of the unit involved provides a broader historical context.

The 181st Independent Helicopter Squadron associated with Novyja Zasimavičy was formed in 1973 at the Temirtau airfield in the Qaraghandy Region. After withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1988, it was stationed at the Pruzhany airfield in Belarus. On 4 March 1993, it was converted into the 181st Air Base, and on 20 March 1996 into the 181st Combat Helicopter Base. The squadron’s duties also included searching for and receiving return capsules from spacecraft.

Another aviation connection is explicitly historical: the former Mi-2 memorial site was probably established in Zasimavichy in 1993, after the 206th Air Base left Pruzhany-West airfield and relocated to Lida. Until 26 October 2015, an Mi-2 transport and medical helicopter stood on a pedestal near the headquarters of the 181st Combat Helicopter Base in Novyja Zasimavičy; the aircraft was later removed. The former Mi-2 memorial exhibit was manufactured on 25 August 1971 and, according to its onboard records, made its final flight on 1 March 1991. Its manufacture, last recorded flight and later use as a memorial exhibit thus mark different stages in its history.

Check whether the Mi-24 monument can be visited before making it a fixed part of your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Kamianiuki, Pinsk, Pagost Zagarodski, Paulinava, Tscharnautschyzy, Medna, Kamyanyets, Hornava.

Go to the broader travel overview: Brest Region.