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Amid growing concerns that Russia could seek out foreign allies like Belarus to provide more ground troops if its forces show the flag in Ukraine, a Belarusian commander tells Fox News Digital the strategy could spell trouble in Minsk’s ranks.
“My prognosis is that it is unlikely, but if it happens there will be big problems,” Belarusian commander of the Kastus Kalinouski regiment Denys Prokhorov said in Kyiv.
Prokhorov said Belarus is likely to face “troop sabotage and [an] “Unwillingness to go to war” if Minsk were to force its troops to fight with Russia in Ukraine.
Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in a military exercise in Gomel, Belarus, on February 19. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Russia and Belarus are increasingly participating in joint military exercises, and Ukrainian forces have warned that Minsk is testing its combat readiness in regions bordering Ukraine.
The Belarusian commander, who recently returned to Kyiv from the front, is part of a Belarusian volunteer combat force that swore allegiance to Ukraine in March after Russia’s deadly invasion.
Prokhorov left Belarus at the age of 18 to fight with Ukrainian forces after Russia’s initial invasion in 2014.
Since then he has been called “Kyt”, which means “whale” in Ukrainian and symbolizes “great power combined with great calm at the same time,” he explained in an interview translated by Ukraine’s Frontline Media Platform.
The commander, who has a handlebar-like mustache, smiled and remarked that his call sign also sounds like “cat” in Ukrainian.
Soldiers of the Belarusian regiment Kastus Kalinouski train in Ukraine. (Photo provided by Kastus Kalinouski Regiment)
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Kyt commands over 300 Belarusian soldiers who have joined Kastus Kalinouski’s ranks to fight Russian aggression in Ukraine and said despite increased joint military exercises agreed to by Moscow and Minsk, there is little appetite in Belarus War.
“We have to understand that the regular troops of the Republic of Belarus are in no way ready to resist Ukraine,” he told Fox News Digital. “You have no motivation.
“No money will make them go to Ukraine to return in body bags,” he added.
The commander said he believes that the majority of Belarusian soldiers and civilians lack the mental readiness to wage war against Kyiv.
Belarusian soldiers fighting in Ukraine with Kastus Kalinouski Regiment (photo by Kastus Kalinouski Regiment)
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“The nation of Belarus does not support Russian armed aggression and a full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” he said, noting that openly expressing opposition to the war, which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has backed, could result in hefty prison terms.
“Russia is currently suffering colossal losses in personnel, weapons and equipment,” Kyt said. “Belarusian troops, monitoring the situation via the Internet, are mentally completely unprepared.”
Caitlin McFall is a reporter at Fox News Digital. You can reach her at [email protected] or @ctlnmcfall on Twitter.