Hundreds of Belarusians have joined the fight in Ukraine against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent invasion. Belarusians arriving in the country to help defend Ukraine have joined the so-called Kastus Kalinouski Battalion, The Washington Post explains — the moniker for the group references the leader of an 1860s uprising in Belarus against Russian leadership. During the present war in Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has backed Putin, but there is widespread opposition among the Belarusian population to the conflict. That opposition has expressed itself through means including protests and sabotage operations targeting Russians’ ability to use Belarusian territory for attacking Ukraine.
⚡️ Bucha liberated by Ukraine, says mayor.
“March 31 will go down in the history of our town,” said Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk.
He thanked Ukraine’s Armed Forces for liberating the city from Russian troops. The city was occupied by Russia since Feb. 27.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 1, 2022
Ukrainians have welcomed substantial numbers of foreigners to their country’s military amid the struggle to push back Russia’s invasion. Pavel Kulazhanka — who previously fled Belarus after fighting the Lukashenko regime and is a member of the Belarusian battalion fighting for Ukraine — told the Post: “Life is about leaps of faith… Fighting Lukashenko was one. Fleeing Belarus was another. Throwing away my life in America was one more. And fighting here, we are making the biggest one of all.” According to Kulazhanka and other members of the group, some 200 members of the battalion are serving on the front lines. (These details were published by the Post on Friday.) And the Post explains that there are apparently “thousands” more Belarusians interested in joining the fight — although the work of processing potential recruits (including examining their backgrounds) has apparently created logistical hurdles. Some of those seeking to participate in Ukraine’s defense were arrested during protests following Lukashenko’s victory in Belarus’s apparently rigged 2020 elections.
⚡️ Ukraine's Air Force: Russian aircraft increase activity in Donbas, avoid direct confrontation.
“The enemy doesn’t control Ukrainian skies,” said Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk.
Instead, Russia uses missile strikes, primarily in eastern Ukraine, he added.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 1, 2022
A 38-year-old named Aleksandr, one of those who’ve joined the struggle in Ukraine, explained: “I only spent three nights in prison during the 2020 protests… But it was enough to make me leave Belarus. I saw women begging not to be beaten, I saw a guy with long hair get scalped. They put 70 of us in a small cell. It was pure brutality, like we are enslaved people or animals. I’m fighting here because until we overthrow Lukashenko, I can’t go back. Defeating Putin in Ukraine is the first step for both countries’ freedom.” There have been worries about Belarusian military personnel joining the fight on Putin’s side, but Pavel Latushko, a former Belarusian official who fled the country, commented as follows regarding the prospect of prepared Belarusian soldiers going into Ukraine: “To me it is obvious why Lukashenko has not said go yet… He is a master at self-preservation, and he knows that invading Ukraine may be the end of him. His soldiers’ morale is zero for this war. They will defect in droves.”
This is the Belarusian battalion named after Kastus Kalinouski in #Ukraine. Belarusian heroes who are helping Ukrainians defend themselves. I have friends there and I know that these people are ready to risk their lives to protect both Ukraine and #Belarus pic.twitter.com/3YUBnTBOyW
— Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) March 31, 2022
According to Chatham House data shared by reporter Hanna Liubakova, less than 3 percent of Belarusians support the prospect of their country’s army joining the war in Ukraine on Putin’s side. And the struggle over the country’s railways — where sabotage operations have been taking place — is intensifying: “The Internal Troops in Belarus reportedly opened fire from live ammunition on the partisans who tried to organise sabotage actions on the railway. This was reported by the community of railway workers who also informed that the partisans were able to escape. Luckily,” Liubakova added.
The Internal Troops in #Belarus reportedly opened fire from live ammunition on the partisans who tried to organise sabotage actions on the railway. This was reported by the community of railway workers who also informed that the partisans were able to escape. Luckily. pic.twitter.com/MZhY5vtbYr
— Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) March 31, 2022
