October, the 14th, was packed with vibrant events for the residents of Novokuznetsk and guests of the city — a monument to the great military commander Mikhail Kutuzov was unveiled. The 3.2-meter-high sculpture is installed on a 4.2-meter-high granite pedestal with an encircling bronze high relief at the intersection of Kutuzov Street and Kurako Avenue.
"Today I visited this legendary city for the first time. We opened a monument to M.I. Kutuzov. Unexpected? But it was here that the commander's ancestor served as the chieftain of the Kuznetsk fort, an outpost of the Tsardom of Muscovy. What families those were! What genes! And the street where the monument stands is named after Kutuzov. And the KMK was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 1st Class; during the Great Patriotic War, front and army commanders were awarded it. Every second tank was made with Novokuznetsk armor. The soldier's sword in Treptow Park was forged here. A decoration of the city. For ages. Our Kutuzov is the Field-Marshal of Victory," Vladimir Medinsky wrote on his Telegram channel.
The visit to the Intellect Academy school, which hosts the regional resource training center of the Chess Federation of Russia in Kuzbass, was interesting and substantive. A tour of the school was conducted by Elena Rybkina, President of the Supervisory Board of the Intellect Academy Autonomous Nonprofit Educational Organization, and Denis Kraev, CEO of JSC SGMK.
The guests were impressed by the school's advanced equipment, which allows the boldest ideas to be brought to life. They showed special interest in the history classroom, noting the design and proprietary methodological developments that immerse students in the atmosphere of historical events. They spoke with young chess players, watched how classes are conducted, and viewed video and photo materials from the Intellect Academy Cup International Chess Festival — in 2025, 43 teams from 17 countries took part in it.
Vladimir Medinsky highly praised the level of organization of the major international chess festival and shared his impressions: "If only there were more such schools in Russia. Keep it up!"
Governor of Kuzbass Ilya Seredyuk also noted the high level of the athletes' training and gave them valuable advice: "The school helps to reveal everyone's talent, but it requires a lot of hard work and high dedication. I wish you victories, excellent grades, and new and interesting knowledge."
The day ended with a meeting with Kuzbass writers, which took place at Intellect Academy. In recent years, the school has become a venue for significant city and regional events.
At the end of the day, Vladimir Medinsky signed Russian history textbooks for 5th and 10th grades, as well as the book "Military History of Russia," which he authored, for the students of Intellect Academy. "Love for history is not instilled by force; it is born inside a person, for example, in a family where service to the Fatherland is valued," the author believes. And in school.