Poland Belarus Ukraine WEB
Metadata
- Poland Belarus Ukraine WEB
- May 16, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: POLAND BELARUS UKRAINE HEADLINE: Belarusian Volunteers Train to Defend Ukraine - and Fight Lukashenko TEASER: Lukashenko opponents train in Poland, expanding their target to include Russia, which has long helped the Belarusian leader consolidate his grip on power. PUBLISHED AT: 05/16/2022 at 5:57 pm BYLINE: Myroslava Gongadze CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Warsaw, Poland VIDEOGRAPHER: Bogdan Osyka, Agency VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS SR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original; Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 4:28 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((TV INTRO)) [[Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has been a launching pad for Russian force. Now thousands of Belarusians who in 2020 stood up to the forces of their longtime ruler Alexander Lukashenko have decided to fight for Ukraine, forming Belarusian units and battalions on Polish territory. VOA’s Myroslava Gongadze has an exclusive look inside the training ground for Belarusian regiment known as “Pahonya” in Poland.]] ((WEB INTRO)) [[Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has been a launching pad for Russian forces. Hundreds of missiles have been fired from Belarusian territory and assault units have been prepared for ground operation in Ukraine. Russian troops that attacked the Ukrainian capital came from Belarusian territory, as did resupply lines. But thousands of Belarusians, who in 2020 stood up to the forces of their longtime ruler Alexander Lukashenko, decided to fight for Ukraine, forming Belarusian units and battalions on Polish territory. VOA’s Myroslava Gongadze got an exclusive look inside the training ground for Belarusian regiment known as “Pahonya” in Poland.]] ((VIDEO: War scenes in Ukraine, Lukashenko and Putin, protest in Belarus REUTERS)) ((NARRATOR)) Critics say Belarus has become an accomplice in Putin’s war on Ukraine. But many Belarusians, who held peaceful protests in 2020 against their longtime ruler, Alexander Lukashenko, have decide to take up arms for Ukraine. Many see an opportunity to free their country from dictatorship. ((VIDEO: nat sound, shooting at the training facility)) At this training ground in Poland, volunteers are taking their first battle lessons. A former Polish police officer, now a business owner, and his war veteran partner are training Belarusians who signed up for new regiment known as “Pahonya.” After a week of training in Poland, the volunteers are transferred to a base in Ukraine for a more vigorous months-long exercise. ((VIDEO: SETUP SHOT OF PROKOPIEV)) The regiment’s leader expects 40 people to sign up each month, and for the numbers to steadily grow. ((Vadim Prokopiev, Pahonya Regiment Founder – MALE IN ENGLISH)) “They are highly motivated Belarussians. They have only two targets. One target is to help their brothers, our brothers in Ukraine, because we have a common (enemy).” ((VIDEO: training at the training facility)) ((NARRATOR)) The volunteers are resolute in their decision to gain combat experience. Andrey says his family is in Belarus and asked that his face not be shown for security reasons. ((Andrey, Pahonya Regiment)) ((in English)) “It's not only the war of Ukraine. This is a war of the whole free world and Belarus as well because Belarus is almost 30 years under dictatorship, and it's very painful for us for the Belarusian people who… really want to be free and our desire our dream after a defeat of Putin we hope that Lukashenko regime... will be destroyed as well.” ((VIDEO: Kirill helping other volunteers at the training facility)) ((NARRATOR)) For Kirill, who left Belarus long ago, this fight is about freedom as well. He started helping Ukrainians buy military equipment and then realized he had a big battle at home to support. ((Kirill, Pahonya Regiment – MALE IN ENGLISH)) “But then I realized that we have some Belarusian military volunteers, and they are not very well-equipped, we decided to start helping them. We start to send them equipment.” ((NARRATOR)) ((VIDEO: More of Kirill helping other volunteers at the training facility)) Kirill hopes to show that many Belarusian people, unlike Lukashenko, do not support Putin’s aggression. ((Kirill, Pahonya Regiment – MALE IN ENGLISH)) “That’s our guilty plea for the Ukrainian people because for now we are holding Belarusian passport. We are the enemies for them because our country, which is also occupied today by the tyrant Lukashenko and shelling from Belarus' territory to Ukrainian cities and villages, and only that way we should provide as much help as we can to Ukraine and their people in their fighting with the Russian aggression.” ((VIDEO: protest in Belarus 2020)) ((NARRATOR)) Kirill like many, was inspired by protests in Belarus two years ago. Back then, their protest was peaceful, and protesters were not prepared for the brutality of Lukashenko’s forces. ((VIDEO: training at the training facility. Tweets by Tsihanovska and Vechorka)) Now, Lukashenko’s opponents are working to get ready for battle. The Belarusian leadership in exile last month endorsed the Pahonya regiment. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the woman who is believed by many to be the rightful winner of Belarusians’ 2020 elections, on Twitter, referred to the unit as “a base for the new professional Belarusian army.” The unit’s leader, Vadim Prokopiev, sees the endorsement as a first step toward freeing Belarus from Lukashenko. ((Vadim Prokopiev, Pahonya Regiment Founder– MALE IN ENGLISH)) “I think the time has come (for) that: Our leadership, our political leadership in exile take more desperate and more decisive measures. If Ukrainians will see enough potential and enough power, I think the recognition (by) a government in exile is a very good and strong move.” ((VIDEO: volunteers training.) ((NARRATOR)) His says his regiment is growing and soon, VOA has learned, some experienced trainers, including U.S. army veterans, will join the fight. ((Myroslava Gongadze, VOA News, Warsaw))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date May 16, 2022 18:12 EDT
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English