Memory in Digital Form: Vyborg Launches Search School With VR Technology
Vyborg is launching a new season of the search school Oblast slavy (Region of Glory). The central event will be the presentation of the VR film Soldatskie tropy. Sinyavinskie vysoty (Soldiers’ Paths. The Sinyavino Heights), which allows viewers to immerse themselves in the events of World War II.
The search school Oblast slavy trains young people in the fundamentals of battlefield search work and the preservation of historical memory. Participants learn methods used to locate the remains of fallen soldiers, the principles of identifying the dead and the practical realities of working in field conditions. The project extends beyond Leningrad Oblast and includes other regions of northwestern Russia where some of the fiercest battles of World War II took place.
Training combines theory and practice. Participants study archival documents and battle maps and then travel on expeditions to former battlefields. This approach allows them not only to gain knowledge but also to take personal responsibility for preserving the memory of the soldiers who died defending the country.
Effect of Presence
The centerpiece of the new season is the presentation of the VR film Soldatskie tropy. Sinyavinskie vysoty. The project is produced in a 360-degree format that places viewers directly inside the historical environment. Virtual reality technology reconstructs the landscape of the Sinyavino Heights during World War II, the sound of artillery bombardments and the atmosphere inside frontline trenches.
Alongside reconstructions of combat, the film also shows the work of modern search teams. Viewers see how volunteers survey terrain with metal detectors, carefully recover soldiers’ remains and document discoveries. This offers a realistic view of how researchers today restore the identities of soldiers who died decades ago.
The 360-degree sense of presence fundamentally differs from watching a traditional documentary. Instead of observing events from a distance, viewers are effectively placed inside the scene, creating a stronger emotional impact and a deeper connection to the past.
A Place of Memory
The Sinyavino Heights lie southeast of Leningrad and held major strategic importance during the war. Control of this area was crucial for breaking the blockade of the city. In 1942–1943, the region saw intense fighting. The Sinyavino Offensive (August–October 1942) and the Mga Offensive (January 1943) formed part of large-scale attempts by Soviet forces to link up with Leningrad.
The territory still preserves traces of those battles. Search teams regularly uncover soldiers’ remains, personal belongings, weapons and equipment. Each discovery – more than an artifact – creates an opportunity to identify a fallen soldier and notify relatives decades after the war.
Heroes With Names
One of the most important tasks of search units is identifying recovered remains. Specialists analyze preserved items such as identification medallions, documents and insignia. The information is transferred to the archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense to establish identity. Once a name is confirmed, relatives are invited to a reburial ceremony conducted with full military honors.
For families who have spent decades without knowing where a relative died, the process carries profound meaning. For younger generations, participation in such ceremonies becomes a powerful lesson in civic memory and a reminder of the human cost of victory.
The project is implemented by the interregional foundation POMNIM, GORDIMSYA, CHTIM (We Remember, We Are Proud, We Honor) with financial support from the Presidential Grants Foundation. The grant makes it possible not only to produce a modern digital project but also to organize regular training sessions for young participants, run field expeditions and prepare teaching materials for educators.
Technologies Serving History
The use of virtual reality in historical education is an increasingly visible trend in Russia. Similar initiatives are already appearing in museums and educational institutions across the country, including virtual tours of battlefields, 360-degree reconstructions of historical events and interactive exhibitions.
Technology does not replace traditional approaches to studying history. Instead, it expands them. For a generation that grew up in the digital era, VR provides an accessible way to connect with the past.
The search school Oblast slavy plans to expand its program and reach more cities across Leningrad Oblast. The recognition and growth of this project demonstrate that preserving historical memory requires not only respect for the past but also the use of modern tools to transmit that memory to new generations.
