In August 2023, we recall events from 109 years ago, when on August 1, 1914, one of the bloodiest wars in the history of humanity began – the First World War, still referred to as the Great War in Belgium. The interaction between Russia and Belgium during that historical epoch was highly active, not only in economic and cultural aspects but also on the military front; over 300 Russian soldiers and officers – participants of the First World War – rest on Belgian soil. During a roundtable discussion held at the Russian House in Brussels, with the participation of researchers of the Russian diaspora, M.Yu. Sorokina and I.N. Egorov, lesser-known aspects of the interaction between Russia and Belgium in the historical context of that dramatic era were discussed.