The idea to create the film "Kalinovsky's regiment: the hope of returning home", which can already be viewed in open access, appeared in the editors of the "This is Minsk, baby" project.

The blogger "Tuteyshi Shlyakhtich"

and cameraman

work there .

The tape has already been shown in Krakow, Białystok, Warsaw and Katowice.

And now it can be seen publicly on YouTube.

"We noticed a problem: quite a few Belarusians do not understand what Kalinowski's regiment is.

That's why we tried to destroy the barrier of misunderstandings and conflicts.

We wanted to show what is hidden in the minds of Kalinin residents, their stories, how they got into the regiment, what they used to do, what their goals are, what they want to do next," explains blogger Usiaslau Pashkevich, one of the authors and creators of the film.

Vsiaslav Pashkevich with the speaker "Chabor"

Vsiaslav says that he himself was very impressed by his acquaintance with the Belarusian volunteers.

"I myself did not expect that I would meet personally with the spokeswoman of Kalinovsky's "Chabor" regiment.

She is such an energetic, charismatic woman who knows how to inspire and encourage, she speaks Belarusian.

In the regiment, all such patriotic, nationally oriented people are very cool people.

They used to be our Belarusian activists, but now they are at war and long to do something for the liberation of Belarus.

There is a fighter "Bulak" who has been watching my channel "Tuteyshi Shlyakhtich" for three years.

I was very pleased to talk to him, he knows Belarusian history very well."

There are also representatives of other nationalities in the regiment, says Vsyslav.

"There is a Czech there - and he is just "wow"!

There are people who are supposedly born to be warriors.

And this Czech is a real warrior, a person who is durable, strong, charismatic, but at the same time very modest in conversation.

It is better not to face him on the battlefield, but if you are near him, on his side, then everything will be fine.

It is impressive that the maximum number of different people gathered there: yesterday's citizens, students, builders, designers.

Each of them has its own history, character, worldview, but they are all united by one idea - to liberate Belarus and return home."

During the shooting of the film

"You understand that it was here that people died during the assault"

The cameraman of the film, Siarhei, says that the people of Kalinin were extremely friendly towards them and Vsiaslav.

"We were allowed to film, told what not to do, what is possible.

Kalinovci were all as friendly as possible.

Although we were not particularly long in Kiev, 10 days, but the atmosphere was simply wonderful.

The soldiers' conversations were so inspiring that Vsiaslav and I periodically joked that we had talked and now we want to join the regiment and fight," smiles Sergei.

According to Vsiaslav, on the contrary, at first they were treated with caution.

"Someone said that we are Tiktokers.

The spokeswoman of the "Thyme" regiment welcomed us very warmly, we sincerely thank her.

She and other Kalinovites very sincerely helped us, showed us, told us.

They themselves were glad that we came, that we were doing such work.

The people of Kalinin try, but conflicts still arise, and it is morally difficult for them that they are risking their lives, saving the lives of other people, the Belarusian name, honor.

But some misunderstanding arises, because of which some Belarusians do not speak very well about the regiment."

Usiaslav Pashkevich (right) with a fighter with the call sign "Bulak"

Sergei says that the film turned out almost as expected, although there were difficulties from the beginning.

"The most difficult thing was that we did not have a cameraman in the team.

There was Vsiaslav, who filmed videos on TikTok and YouTube.

And I, although I am engaged in editing and posting, had to play the role of a cameraman, had to learn all this literally on the spot.

That was difficult.

On certain days, I had to shoot on my feet from 9 in the morning until late in the evening."

"I began to dream that rockets were flying at me"

During the filming, an unexpected situation happened, which greatly impressed Vsiaslav and Sergey.

And also gave the film even more emotionality.

"When we were shooting (one of the episodes. — RS) at San Marino (a hotel where the battles took place with the participation of fighters of the Kalinovsky regiment. — RS), a local resident approached us and asked: "Guys, are you Ukrainian media?" We they said that we are Belarusians, making a film about Kalinowski's regiment.

Then he met us with such joy, shook hands and said: "Let me tell you everything, I was an eyewitness of those events."

He narrated very emotionally, we were impressed that we have such material.

Even in Kalinowski's regiment, when they watched, they said that it was cool, because all the words of that man touched the heart to the maximum," says Vsiaslav.

"When I said that I was a volunteer of the Kalinovsky regiment, the policeman's face immediately changed"

During their stay in Kyiv, Vsiaslav and Serhiy had only a positive reaction from Ukrainians.

"Some Ukrainians said that they understand that Lukashenka is a dictator who tortured the Belarusian people, that this is an anti-Belarusian regime and we need to defeat it.

And there were those who did not know about the existence of the Belarusian language.

Funny incidents happened when they thought we were speaking Ukrainian, but with a very strong accent."

Vsiaslav Pashkevich in Ukraine

Vsiaslav also recalls the story of how he and Sergey were checked by the police.

"A policewoman met us at the guardhouse, we talked, and she said: "He speaks Ukrainian well."

One of the employees added that it was the Belarusian language, and others said: "So we hear that something is wrong here!" We were taken to the police station for questioning, and one policeman sullenly said: "What are you doing here?" When I said that I am a volunteer of the Kalinovsky regiment (I even had official papers), he immediately changed his face and added with a smile that everything is fine."

Siarhei adds that Ukrainians have a very positive attitude towards Kalinovsky's regiment.

"It is very difficult for the relatives of the residents of Kalinin, because their relatives are risking their lives, and so much money is being spent on them"

Relatives of some Belarusian volunteers thanked us for our work, says Vsiaslav.

"In Belarus itself, the minds of ordinary people living in villages and small towns are stained with Lukashenka's propaganda.

They say, Kalinowski's regiment is radicals, bandits.

People are starting to believe it, and it's very difficult for relatives, because their relatives are risking their lives, and so much money is being paid to them.

At the show, there were also veterans who served.

Everyone sincerely thanked for the film, said that it is an extremely important work to convey to a wide circle of Belarusian audiences the truth about what kind of people these are, what they want to achieve."

A day later, the premiere of the documentary film "Kalinowski's regiment: the hope of returning home" will be shown on the YouTube channel of the "This is Minsk, baby" project.

Secure communication

with our editors.

HERE