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Dzianis ‘Kit’: We’ll Forcefully Defend Belarusian People

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Dzianis ‘Kit’: We’ll Forcefully Defend Belarusian People
DZIANIS ‘KIT’ PROKHARAU

Interview with the heroic commander of the Kalinouski Regiment.

The main heroes of the outgoing year for many Belarusians were the fighters of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, who are now defending Ukraine. Dzianis ‘Kit’ Prokharau leads the Kalinovites. He is a first-class commander and an experienced warrior. He visited the hottest spots of the war in Ukraine at the age of 26. He trained the future defenders of Azovstal, who became famous throughout the world.

Dzianis ‘Kit’ gives an interview to Charter97.org. He speaks about the heroic battle in Bucha, the training of the Kalinovites, and the plans of Belarusian volunteers to liberate Belarus.

“Belarusians and Ukrainians must unite to protect each other”

– You went to fight in Ukraine when you were 18 years old. Tell us, please, how did you come to this decision?

– Actually, I was following the Maidan thoroughly. The Belarusian youth was advanced at that time and knew about the Internet.

Then I realized that Belarusians lack this desire for freedom. At the age of 16-17, I saw what the dictatorship and Lukashenka's regime were like, read some books, and even tried to ask my mother about the 90s, about the Belarusian People's Republic and so on. However, I realized that Lukashenka's propaganda was working hard and everyone forgot about those times.

When the Maidan began, I immediately wanted to come, but it didn’t work out, because I had to finish lyceum labour-rent. As everyone knows, you have to fulfill a compulsory labour-rent in our country after education, or you will receive a big fine.

When it ended, Crimea was annexed and I realized that I would not go to the Maidan, but to my friends in a combat unit, to take up arms and fight. I was not indifferent to the history of the Belarusian people, as well as the Ukrainian people. At that time, I already believed that the Russian Empire was again doing its dirty deed and our peoples should unite in order to protect each other. With these thoughts, I took a one-way ticket.

– You started your way in the Azov Regiment. Why are Russians so afraid of them?

– You know, Azov is a big family, the main idea of which is the idea of the Ukrainian nation, its cultural and linguistic features. They always remember their national heroes. These are modern Cossacks who defend their country and their nation from the Muscovites. The history of the Azov began in 2014 and the regiment continues to temper all this time.

This national idea has no chauvinistic inclination. It is about the fact that Ukraine is a free country, free from Russia, everything is built on this.

For me, Azov became a home that gave me the feeling that I belong to this country, because the Azovites are people who will hold on one by one, and will avenge everyone who left dying heroically. You feel this in a team.

The defence of Azovstal showed military courage, this Cossack spirit. Now the whole world does not want to shout at them: "Nazis". Everyone understood their idea of a nation, they were standing by the country to the last.

I would say that the Azov is the heart of the Ukrainian army. The idea of the Azov brought up more than a hundred first-class warriors. The idea of this upbringing is discipline, cultural and historical aspects, as well as motivation.

For me, the Azovstal marked an attempt to prick into the very heart of Ukraine. I don’t know what else to say about the Azov, because I have only warm thoughts. This unit was built according to NATO standards back in 2015. The legendary regiment has already entered modern history, and the battle at the Azovstal, as far as I know, is included in the new Bushido code as an example of the greatest courage.

“That was the last moment I saw Ilia ‘Litvin’ alive”

— You’ve mentioned the heroic defence of the Azovstal. There was just an incredible story at the beginning of the war when you fought with Russian troops in Bucha and even set yourself on artillery fire. Can you tell us about this battle?

— It all started with the Azov Territorial Defence Unit. There were former Azov's veterans, there were still guys from the battalion. Different groups were united there. Their task was to go around Kyiv and the region, participate in battles and knock out the enemy. We, Belarusian volunteers, also got into such a group: me, Ilia 'Litvin', Aliaksei “Psychologist”.

And we, 30-40 people, first went on one mission, then on another, and already the third mission was the defence of Bucha. According to the information that our group received, we had to come to Bucha on foot and gain a foothold in order to meet the enemy’s vehicles and prevent them from moving further.

Our two groups took two routes, where, as we thought, the vehicles would go. Everything happened at one moment, but we were not waiting for them on their way. The Russians made their way between residential buildings, which complicated the attacks of our guys.

The battle began approximately at 13:00 or 14:00 on March 3. It became clear that they had more vehicles than we were expecting, while 30-40 infantrymen with assault rifles, machine guns and a couple of RPG crews were the best we had.

There was a hotel complex near this place, the San Marino villa. We took a foothold there accidentally when the enemy opened fire and battle started.

There were three options for us. The first was to run out into an open field under enemy fire. The second option was an attempt to cross the road full of vehicles. The third option was to gain a foothold in the hotel complex and fight, hoping for support and evacuation of our group. The evacuation was waiting for us, but it was quite far away.

The battle started and we came under fire. Aliaksei with the call sign "Psychologist" was seriously wounded in the leg.

There was a feeling that you are in the right place, you are with those guys and you can totally rely on them. This gave a certain confidence in the battle.

Ilia ‘Litvin’ and I were in an RPG crew. Ilia, after the first shot fired, ran to recharge, recharged a shell and ran out into the street again. That was the last time I saw him alive.

There were several of our civil cars, the guys from aerial reconnaissance and someone else arrived by these cars. And we stuffed all the seriously wounded into these cars. They miraculously managed to leave, while the enemy switched their attention to us.

For some time we sat in this building of the villa, and then we were told that there was a shelter. It turned out to be a boiler room in the basement of the pool. Our paramedics were already working there.

I started to help paramedics, I tried to help one, second, third. Then I understand that all this time I have had one thought in my head: “Where is Litvin now?” I asked my group commander for permission to find Litvin. All this time, you have to understand, large-caliber shells were dropping everywhere, also RPF’s shells, the enemy tanks were targeting the complex. And in such conditions, the guys were lying down, their wounds were bandaged, and I ran around the complex and shouted: “Litvin, where are you?”.

By this time, the roof of the complex was already on fire, the top floor was burned down, for some reason I had thoughts that he was there. I ran to the second floor, ran a little into the flames, somehow covered myself with my hands and shouted: “Litvin! Litvin!”. But I heard no response and ran to look further.

I saw that someone was lying next to the building after I ran out, on my way back. It was Ilia. Emotions came first, first seconds, but it was different from throwing everything and shouting. I just grabbed my head because I couldn't believe it had happened. Since 2014, we have had guys in Ilovaisk, we’ve gone through many other hot spots, but there was always an inner feeling that death would bypass us and nothing would happen. Then I stood next to Ilia and simply could not believe what I saw. Then I took the necessary measures and realized that Ilya was dead.

The body had to be taken to our wounded guys for the evacuation. I asked two fellows to help me. We took him to our wounded and waited further.

“We’ve just set artillery fire on ourselves”

Then I was told to take positions closer to the edge of the San Marino villa. I was observing through a window the Bucha side sitting in one of the houses. I looked out the window and saw vehicles with a "V" on their armor, which were already coming to the edge of the complex to encircle us.

All this time we were waiting for the evacuation, and then a radio message came that it was impossible to take us out of there: “We have killed, we got into a fight and can’t pick you up, signing off.”

Then we realized that they stayed alone there. The guys around me might be the last ones I saw. Everyone had such an idea that we were to die there, most likely.

They tried to force us out of the positions. I heard that my very good friend from Ukraine was wounded, we knew each other for a long time and worked together: Zhenia "Strelok”.

I heard him say, “Guys, I'm wounded. I am the 200th.” He did not mix up the numbers, but simply described his injury, it was very serious - a wound in the inguinal region, there is a large artery and a person can “leak out” in 30 seconds. Zhenia specifically said that he was mortally wounded so that our paramedic would not waste his time trying to help him. But our paramedic did everything possible to stabilize his condition, and then covered Strelok with a medical blanket. He was stable the whole time we were fighting.

We agreed not to talk at all, only with gestures so that the enemies think that we are dead. All this time, our group leader was getting closer to the exit, so that he could catch the radio and set artillery fire on us because there was information that we were in a cauldron and surrounded, there were enemies around us, the rumble of their vehicles was just everywhere. We called and set artillery fire to our location: “Shoot here - you won’t miss, enemies are all around.”

We were continuing the fight, holding the sectors, our senior came in and said that there was good news. We raised our heads and thought what kind of news it could be, and he said: “I called artillery to shell us, everything is fine. Let's hold on." And at that point, believe it or not, it was really, really good news, because the hell that was going on there could not change for something even worse.

They were firing anti-tank missiles at the building, 80% of the building collapsed, it was simply destroyed and everything was on fire, except for the kitchen where we were sitting.

I remember that one of our soldiers was standing there and a large caliber shell hit his head through the wall. The head just burst like a watermelon. All these remnants were there, and we were fighting. And we were waiting for artillery to start working. My best friend was dead. Hail our Gods, one left. The only thing we could do was to keep holding the sectors.

At one point, I fired a clip and I had to reload: I knelt down, reloaded, started to get up, and at that very moment something hit at a distance of 5-7 or 10 meters. I managed to turn to the right side and three fragments wounded my hand.

I did not immediately realize that I was wounded because of the adrenaline: I lifted my combat jacket and saw that I was bleeding. I sat down and said: “Guys, I am the 300th" and began to set a tourniquet, put it around, and twist it.

The first tourniquet turned out to be Chinese, it was bursting, and I had to take the second tourniquet. I put it below, and I shook my hand. I could not define the wound, but I said that it was “light” and then I sat, holding the sector with one hand.

There was a wounded guy next to me. I later learned that his call sign was "Eugene". Our paramedic did all possible. I checked the tourniquets, but I felt that blood was still leaking somewhere. It was already dark, we were waiting all the time for the artillery. I asked "Eugene" to squeeze my hand, we were talking all the time to keep him conscious. Over time, his grip began to weaken, so I decided to support him morally. I thanked him for being with us. I said that I was very proud to know him, although I didn't even know him. Tried to calm him down. After some time, he died in my hands.

“Everyone's eyes said that we were already dead”

Then the bombardment started. Russian vehicles tried to drive right into the building, the sound was very close. We were sitting, and vehicles were driving into the main hall. The engine was running, and we, of course, were sitting silent. It stood for a while and left.

Then an artillery shell hit our building. You see, it didn’t care anymore. Everyone's eyes said that we were already dead. No one panicked, we took it as it was. Everyone understood that this could happen when we joined this battle.

Kyiv and the region, if we caved in then it would be the end. I really wanted to say the last words to someone, to talk with my wife and friends, but the phone died and there was no way to contact anyone.

When it got completely dark, around 11-12 in the evening, after the shelling, we kept silent for a long time. There was a question that was to do something, it was impossible to stay there. Everyone understood that darkness was our only chance.

The sounds of vehicles started to disappear, and then everything became silent. I thought that they simply drowned out their vehicles, pointed their guns in two directions and waited for us to leave.

The guys with night vision devices decided to go for pre-reconnaissance. Half an hour before that, we had asked to work with artillery so that there would be some kind of movement. When our fighters returned, they said that we could leave.

We take our seriously wounded, I get a guy with a very badly wounded leg. It was about two kilometers to go, and the guys told us that we needed to go the last 500 meters more, so that it would be morally easier for us. At one point, a paramedic reported that the wounded "Strelok" had died due to blood loss. We hid the body so we could come back for it.

– How long did it take you to get to your positions?

– It took 40-60 minutes. We did take breaks. Enemy vehicles were standing along the road fitted or just with parking lights on. We walked 20-40 meters away from it. We were lucky that the night was moonless, it was very dark. Then a bus came to us and we left.

“We are training fighters according to NATO standards”

– You are in command of the regiment now. How did you realize that you are to create a full-fledged Belarusian unit?

– The fact is that when "Litvin" recorded an appeal to all Belarusians, we fought for Kyiv and did not think that there would be such an influx of people among our people. We were glad that people were coming, and we created a company. Then the number of applicants grew even more and we realized that it was necessary to create structures such as the Warsaw Center, where they would accept applications and check people.

The realization that we would have a unit came to me personally five days after I lay in the hospital after being wounded. I said that I couldn't lie any longer, I wanted to be useful. I came back to the Azov base and a company of Belarusians was already fully formed there.

When I left for the hospital, there were about 20 people at the base, and when I returned there was a company, about 70 people. They all wanted to take up arms. After the injury, I was more engaged in instructor activities and taught the fighters the basics. Then people contacted us with proposals for contract service at the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The only condition was to accept only Belarusians.

We came to the Azov’s leadership with this news, talked, shook hands, and I said that Azov is a big family, but now a lot of Belarusians are coming to us and we are responsible for them. We are forming our own family, which we must support now. They heard us, we shook hands and I said, "See you on the battlefield.".

When we moved to another base, they immediately told everyone that we were starting to create a battalion named after Kastus Kalinouski with a contract service, and so on. They realized that it was necessary to announce the creation and formation of the regiment over time. I must say right away that I have never aspired to power in order to be in charge, a commander.

You see, unfortunately, not every one of the guys with whom we started this movement survived. Some of the fighters who led our groups, they actually formed the battalion and the regiment, just chose me as the commander. "We need you to do it," they said.

Then it was very important that the commander could show his face to cameras, talk about the unit, have a combat background and always be in contact with the fighters. At that time I was an instructor and constantly communicated with volunteers. It turns out that I fulfilled all the necessary conditions. I agreed and decided to try my best to be a good commander of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment.

– You are an experienced military man. How do you assess the readiness and skills of the Kalinouski Regiment? How strong is it today?

– We created a training company immediately. The training was according to the NATO system: discipline and weaponry skills. All this is taken from the fact that I was, I repeat, for some time an instructor at the Azov, taught tactics, medicine and military discipline to recruits. This is what I passed on to our guys. I am 100% sure that if we give the same knowledge that we once gave to the soldiers of Azov, then this will be useful. This base performed, as we can see, very well.

There were many guys at the Azovstal plant whom I knew personally. There was a time when I was their instructor. I am not saying this now to stand out. No, I just had such a job and many guys went through our Belarusian "training course". I treated every recruit with respect. We, the instructors, could do 2-3 times better the things we were demanding from the recruits.

It so happened that the guys who participated in the first combat missions came up to me to talk face to face and thanked me for the training, shook my hand and said, “Kit, I was on a mission and at one moment I remembered what you said, how to behave in such situations. Thank you, it helped me survive.”

Now the training of fighters is at a very high level. We continue the methodology of NATO standards, we have a very serious "training". When, for example, I trained guys, it was very fast, there was no structure, you had to prepare here and now, as if tomorrow they would come to a battle.

Now there is more time to prepare. Everything is scheduled on the clock. Skills are given methodically. During this time we have trained instructors who work according to NATO standards. Now recruits are going through a very, very cool basic military training. I am present at some training, for example, practical field training. They go out for a day and spend a night in a forest in the trenches. Then they go to an advanced shooting course, where they are already trained by experienced Ukrainian instructors. They shoot 1,500 rounds per person in a few weeks during shooting training.

The training unit has a very, very high level today. The guys have combat experience when they get to combat missions and units after training. We all know that shooting at a firing range is one thing, but a combat mission is quite another.

Fighters from our Volat Battalion, Yan 'Belarus’ is their commander, are now in the Bakhmut axis. It's very 'hot' there. Yan says that the guys are already becoming professional military men. It's wonderful news because this is one of our goals when we talk about the freedom of Belarus.

The fighters of the Litvin Battalion also perform their tasks at a professional level, gaining vast combat experience. The commanders of the Litvin Battalion and Volat Battalion are real professionals.

If we talk about Lukashenka's army and about us, then we need to understand that our fighters are gaining experience here and now, while the Belarusian regular army has no combat experience. After all, studying at the academy and shooting a few rounds at the training ground is not a combat experience.

Ukraine has been at war since 2014. And the fighters who are in our units have also been fighting since the beginning of 2022. They are receiving knowledge that you will not get at any training ground.

”We will meet Lukashenka's army in the forefront”

– The command of Ukraine says that it is preparing for a new attack from Belarus. Are you ready to meet them in the event of an invasion by Lukashenka's troops?

– We are ready. You should understand that this is a fundamental issue for our unit. There are only Belarusians in our regiment, we are already working to “bleach” the blood of the Belarusian nation by standing up for Ukraine. We will have to meet and destroy those who are called "Belarusians", but are fighting against Ukraine.

We are showing that these are not real Belarusians. The real ones are now fighting alongside the Ukrainians, not against them. So this is a very important point for us. There is an agreement with our top leadership that as soon as the offensive starts from the territory of Belarus, we will be moved to this axis. We will meet them in the forefront.

– What do you think about the liberation of Belarus?

– The goal of our unit is to stand up for unarmed Belarusians who are striving for free elections without Lukashenka, having the 2020 event in mind. Become a real Belarusian army, which will really be aimed at the national interests of Belarus, and not the Lukashenka regime.

Free elections will be the beginning, and then there are different types of governmental forms: parliamentary republic, presidential and so on, but democracy should prevail.

I came to Ukraine in 2014 and I’ve realized a lot over eight years here. For example, the work of the Verkhovna Rada. I felt freedom as soon as I came here, there is much more freedom. Therefore, our task is to make Belarus a country where you can think and feel free.

We will stand up for the defence of the Belarusian people. Many people say that allegedly took the oath and swore to the Ukrainian people. I can say that it is not true. We have an internal oath of our unit, where we take the oath of Belarus. However, it is very important to understand that without a free Ukraine, we will not be able to build a free Belarus.

Now we are spreading the idea that it will be very difficult for Ukraine without a free Belarus. Putin will use the Belarusian lands for revenge, a second attack on Kyiv, and so on.

I want to emphasize that our goal is to stand up for the Belarusian people and make Belarus democratic, independent of the Putin regime, with our culture, history and language, make Belarus a member of the European Union and let it join NATO. Not the Soviet "Belorussia" but modern Belarus.

– What role do you assign yourself in a free Belarus?

– This is a difficult question. You see, it’s hard for me to think what I will do in a free Belarus during the war in Ukraine. I have a similar situation with the holidays. I can’t think about them when the war is being waged and blood is shedding. I don't want to guess.

I'm doing my job, and let it be as it is destined. I do not aspire to any position in Belarus. But if the Belarusian people decide so, I will do everything for their benefit. No matter how hard it would be for me in this field. I will do my best to make Belarus stronger.

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