"160 years ago, our nations united their forces, standing shoulder to shoulder against Russian imperialism.

The January Uprising accelerated the national revival and liberation movement on the territory of modern Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania," the President of Ukraine wrote in his address.

Svoboda asked the deputy commander of the Kalinovsky Regiment

to comment on the words of the President of Ukraine .

- You are a Belarusian who is fighting for Ukraine in the Kalinovsky regiment.

How did you perceive Zelensky's words?

- In Kiev, and not only, a street named after Kastus Kalinouski appeared.

The fame of Kalinowski and this uprising spread thanks to our unit.

What the Belarusians did not mention is the consequence of the fact that Belarus is a co-aggressor.

It is very difficult for an average Ukrainian to understand that there are good Belarusians and that there are bad Belarusians.

People think simply.

Until 2022, mostly everyone praised Lukashenka, but now everyone is cursing him, and along with him, the Belarusians.

Unfortunately, this is a reversal of public opinion that is difficult to reverse.

- But this was not said by an average Ukrainian, but by the President of Ukraine.

He probably knows that Kalinowski's regiment is fighting for Ukraine and that Belarusians fought in the uprising.

Do you mind?

- Unfortunately.

It is also unpleasant for me as a human being.

But this is how public opinion has developed in Ukraine, and public politicians, including the president of Ukraine, follow and monitor ratings.

Now, to say something good towards Belarusians is a maveton.

Someone will understand, but I state that currently only a small percentage of Ukrainians will understand some positive role of Belarusians or their history.

Unfortunately, public opinion is formed very negatively in relation to Belarus and Belarusians.

- Lukashenko said today that Ukraine offered Belarus a "non-aggression pact".

What do you think about it?

- Negotiating with this person is quite a task.

For me, it is known from history how such Molotov-Ribbentrop pacts end.

I have been living in Ukraine since 2014, and therefore it is strange to hear such a thing, because something similar has already happened in the recent history of Ukraine.

Once upon a time, acting head of state Aleksandar Turchynov met with Lukashenka and later said that they discussed a possible attack from Belarus.

Lukashenka allegedly promised him that if there was such an attack, he would warn him in a few days.

As we can see, this word was not restrained.

I don't want to comment on the statements of this character.

I don't know who takes him seriously in Ukraine.

- But do you think that these words about the pact are fake, or could such a thing still exist?

- At the expert level in Ukraine, everyone has been saying for a long time that Lukashenka is not independent, and even more so he is not independent in the military sense.

Perhaps we are talking about the fact that the Russian troops will attack, and the Belarusian ones will not.

It is difficult to comment.

If Ukrainians are trying to come to an agreement again and want to believe in something after what happened, after Irpyan and Buchi, I honestly don't understand it.

- You may have heard that the Ukrainian side lobbied in Brussels to exclude Belarus from the new EU sanctions.

What do you think, why is this being done, when Ukraine is now collecting signatures for breaking diplomatic relations with Belarus?

- There was a statement by one journalist, but the Ukrainian side denied it.

That's why I don't know who to believe.

- Rikard Yuzviak, who told about it, is a very solid journalist who has been working there for many years and has very good sources.

- I do not rule out that some circles could.

Earlier, they made geshefts, trading with Lukashenka.

We know that after 2020, when sanctions began to be imposed, Ukraine continued to trade.

It is likely that someone wants to make good money again.

There are various pro-government circles and business groups in Ukraine.

Not everything is perfect in the Ukrainian state.

Perhaps someone conducted such negotiations.

- Lukashenka said today that the Ukrainian government is very cold towards Kalinovsky's regiment.

The other day, he carried a Ukrainian from Donbas, who was operated on in Minsk, around the hockey arena in a wheelchair.

And Lukashenka said that Zelensky will not treat you, residents of Kalinin like that.

- I have the impression that he sleeps with the ghosts of Kolino residents who cross the border and climb into the window of his residence.

Almost every week either he or his propaganda mentions us.

He is not a completely healthy person mentally, there is no point in commenting on him.

- Zenon Pazniak arrived in Kyiv.

Will the "Kolinites" have a meeting with him?

- Of course, it will be.

We cannot ignore such a historical figure.

Most guys really want to meet and listen.

This is an event for us.

• Dmitry Gurnevich

  Radio Svaboda journalist

  hurnievicd@rferl.org

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