The Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment: Belarusian Freedom Fighters in Ukraine

The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has drawn the attention of the world, as the fate of two nations hangs in the balance. But there is another group of people who are also fighting for their freedom and dignity in this war: the Belarusian volunteers of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment.

The regiment is named after a 19th-century Belarusian national hero who led a rebellion against the Russian Empire. Their motto is “First Ukraine, then Belarus”, indicating their wish to liberate both countries from the Russian influence. Their mission is to protect Ukraine from the Russian invasion and to weaken the Putin regime, which they see as a common enemy of Belarus and Ukraine.

The regiment was formed in March 2022, after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Since then, the regiment has been fighting on the front lines, alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces, against the Russian aggressors. The regiment has also been involved in humanitarian and educational activities, helping the local population and spreading the Belarusian culture and language.

The regiment consists of about 300 Belarusian volunteers, mostly young men and women, who left their homes, families, and jobs to join the cause. They come from different backgrounds and professions, but they share a common vision of a free and democratic Belarus. Many of them are supporters of the Belarusian opposition, which has been brutally repressed by the Lukashenko regime since the fraudulent 2020 presidential election. Some of them are former political prisoners, activists, journalists, or students who faced persecution and violence for expressing their views.

The regiment is well-equipped and trained, thanks to the support of the Ukrainian authorities and the international community. The regiment mostly travels in trucks and pickups, and sometimes uses tanks, MTLBs, BMPs, BTR-80s, and British Bulldog APCs. They have mostly NATO-standard small arms and medium machine guns, and some Soviet-standard weapons. They also have crew-served weapons such as M2 .50, SPG 73mm, 81 or 82mm, and 120mm mortars. They wear standard UAF uniforms and receive regular, tasty, and sufficient food from the Ukrainian quartermasters.

The regiment has suffered seven killed as of July 2022, including some of its commanders and deputies. One of them, Aliaksiej Skoblia, was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine by President Zelenskyy for his courage and heroism in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has also inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, destroying dozens of Russian tanks, vehicles, and aircraft. The regiment has earned the respect and admiration of the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, who call them “brothers” and “heroes”.

The regiment has received more than a thousand applications from Belarusians who want to join its ranks. The only way to join the regiment is by filling out a verification form in their chatbot. It also has a reserve battalion that conducts regular training for its members. The regiment’s website provides more information and ways to get involved or donate. It welcomes any Belarusian who is willing to fight for the freedom of Ukraine and Belarus, regardless of their political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity.

The regiment’s members do not have a clear plan for how to achieve a free and normal Belarus, but they hope that by fighting for Ukraine, they will contribute to the collapse of the Putin regime, which they consider to be the main obstacle for the liberation of Belarus. They describe Lukashenko as a weasel who will do anything to stay in power, and doubt that he would dare to go to war with Ukraine, as that would trigger mass protests in Belarus. They also fear that if they are captured by the Russians, they will not be treated as prisoners of war, but as terrorists or traitors.

The Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment is a remarkable example of solidarity and courage in the face of tyranny and oppression. They are not only fighting for their own country, but for the future of Europe and the world. They are not only defending Ukraine, but also advancing the cause of democracy and human rights. They are not only honoring the legacy of their namesake, but also creating their own history. They are the Belarusian freedom fighters in Ukraine.

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