A combat unit manned by Belarusian volunteers recently formed to fight on Ukraine’s side in its war with the Russian Federation (RF), a 24 Channel TV news report said on Saturday, March 26.
The formation, called the Belarusian Battalion of Kastus Kalinovsky, will be a regular formation in the Ukraine Armed Forces (UAF), and all members will take an oath to defend Ukraine, the report said.
Images aired by 24 Channel TV showed a group of 23 men in Ukrainian uniforms and equipped with protective armor and automatic weapons, saying first the Ukrainian battle salute “Glory to the Heroes.” followed by the Belarusian opposition salute “Long live Belarus!”
A speaker said RF atrocities committed in Mariupol, along with the moral obligation for Belarusians to fight for the freedom of others, are the main motivations for people joining the unit. At present, only Belarusian national may join the battalion, the report said.
The last two weeks have seen continuing efforts by the Kremlin to draw Belarus’ army into its war against Ukraine, only to see Belarus’ authoritarian leader just as repeatedly talk aggressively against Kyiv, while at the same time refusing to order an attack.
According to widespread independent Ukrainian news agency reports, which are readily accessible in authoritarian Belarus, the Belarusian military is well aware of the Ukraine Armed Force’s effective defensive skills and is little interested in risking lives and careers, to support Putin and the RF.
Konstanty “Kastus” Kalinowski was a leader in rebellions by ethnic Lithuanians, Poles and Belorusians against Russian Empire domination in 1863. Russian Empire authorities executed him in 1864.
