Fighting on the side of Ukraine’s 23-year-old Belarusian Yan Melnikau says that he sees the situation in this country as “dropping of the Kremlin’s shackles.” According to the volunteer tactical group “Belarus”, they take all comers, now in Ukraine would fight a battalion of the Belarusian.
Yang claims that are currently on the front line separatists use multiple launch rocket systems “Grad” and other heavy weapons that was not there the whole of last year.
“I don’t think the current attacks are related to what they (separatists — DELFI) are really going to go on the offensive, to occupy new positions in the city. They now lack the human, financial resources for large-scale offensive. Now they have a complete breakdown,” — says Yan Melnikau.
The interlocutor noted that for a while came to Vilnius from Ukraine, said that the intensification of the war was observed this past year. He doubts the existence of the separatists of any plan of attack, because the situation in their ranks unimportant — not enough people, specialists, etc.
Why Belarusians went to Ukraine to fight on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces, thereby cutting off the his way back home, how many Belarusians, and why he considers Russia as the cause of the conflict in an interview with DELFI.
DELFI: what gave you the idea to go to Ukraine to take part in actual combat?
Yan Melnikau: I went to Ukraine to participate in hostilities. If I were in Belarus, and there I would have caught the fact that in Ukraine there is a war, I really don’t know, I would go or not. I went to Ukraine 23 January 2014, when the Maidan killed Belarusian Zhiznevsky. He was the second victim of the events of the revolution. I watched the event and saw it as the dropping of the Kremlin’s shackles. All Eastern European Nations at the time were the path to freedom.
Lithuanians in 1991, the blood won their freedom. We, Belarusians, thanks to the Lithuanians who started a movement for freedom, she got very easily. And Belarusians, perhaps, did not understand that kind of freedom. As for Ukraine, I understood what Yanukovych that he is a puppet of the Kremlin, were interested in this and supported the Ukrainians in their desire to overthrow the corrupt, bureaucratic power, which was focused on Moscow, entering into all sorts of alliances led by Russia.
When I saw that there were the first victims, I realized that I can’t sit at home. So I went to the Maidan. If I was 20 years old (now Jan 23) at the time when the tanks went into Vilnius, I would go to Vilnius. In this family I grew up in. My father was a civil active person when I was small, he even then told me what the second Chechen campaign that’s going on, who came to whom and who to whom he imposes. From the moment I read, understood, what Russia.
— As far as is known, Belarus is behavior like yours are not so widespread…
— People who think the same as I, very much. Another question, how many of those who, having such thinking and look at the situation around, valid.
— It’s not easy to join the ranks of those who are fighting on the front line? How did you get there?
— I was in the organization and Belarus watched what organization is represented on the Maidan. I was surprised that for the most part people who came by themselves, it was self-defense from people who wanted a change. They were not intended to overthrow the current government and bring to power political forces. It was mostly those who wanted to live in a normal country. They didn’t go for someone, as opposed to the existing system. Then I saw that there is an organization “Right sector”, where many young people. It is now the “Right sector” overgrown with myths, something tried Russian propaganda. But I saw there people like me who have not seen themselves after the revolution in Parliament, those who wanted the normal power, think about the people. That is, the nationalists, who understand nationalism as a power that is doing everything for his people.
— So initially you were in the “Right sector”?
Yes. None of them were famous politicians who like to have portfolios or a seat in Parliament. From the beginning, I was impressed with the fact that in politics they themselves have not seen. They saw their organization as control over the care of one authority and the arrival of the other as part of the people to their country were good managers working for the people.
— Now you what organization you are?
— Belarusians have their own tactical group “Belarus”. At different times we had different number of people. From the beginning 10-15 people, now more. Depending on the situation we are in different parts of the front line. For example, on the line of reconciliation, the direction of Lugansk, where fighting is generally not conducted. Now, when I went to Lithuania on vacation, at the direction of Donetsk happened the intensification of the fighting, and then we choose the direction of Donetsk.
— You have to shoot?
Yes. Belsat TV channel made a special film about Belarusians in Ukraine. The so-called “Belorus”. There all is told about the beginning of 2015.
— Now the situation on the front line is escalating, but before almost every day people died.
— For the last day (the conversation was held on 31 January — DELFI) in Ukraine, three dead, about 20 wounded. It is a city of Avdiyivka, a suburb of Donetsk, which is to drive 10-15 minutes. It is a North-West direction. We, Belarusians are on the South-West, in Marinka. It is also a suburb of Donetsk, about five kilometers from Kuibyshev district of the city.
Now in the industrial area of the Town used salvo of “Grad”, which over the past 2016, I don’t remember to apply. I mean, that’s pretty serious. Are also used heavy weapons, which also have not been applied. 2016 year I spent in the town in the “Ukrainian volunteer army.” This movement, which was formed after the split of the “Right sector”. We are now seeing the revitalization, which was not all of last year. What is the reason, I don’t know. May be some negotiations on some level. Maybe agree on something then. When in Minsk there were negotiations that coincided with the Debaltsevsky boiler. Putin called and found out what the situation, took in the pot or not, so from this position to negotiate.
© AP Photo, Mstyslav ChernovПророссийские militia next to an unexploded rocket “Hurricane” in Debaltsevo
I don’t think the current attacks are related to what they (separatists — DELFI) are really going to go on the offensive, to occupy new positions in the city. They now lack the human, financial resources for large-scale offensive. Now they have a complete breakdown, you can even see it on the post in Facebook of the leaders of the terrorist battalion “dawn”, it is in Lugansk, and now standing at Avdeevka terrorist battalion “Vostok”, which now takes part in the intensified fighting. These people write in social networks that in the rear, in Donetsk, their leaders are sitting and getting fat, while they starve and they are not paid. In General, if we analyze the situation where the force where aktiviziruyutsya operation, the number of reconnaissance and sabotage groups, they have now observed a huge shortage. I’m not talking about professionals, they are always terrorists had a deficit, but ordinary people who can stand with a gun and guard the perimeter.
— Belarusians, too, will probably die in this war?
In 2015, killed two soldiers of our tactical group — Ales Cherkashin, Vitaly, Telezhenko, in the battle for the Volnovaha in the liberation of the village of Belokamenka. About the situation inside the so-called DNR and LNR I tell you because all this intensified with the attacks is just for the sake of noise, action for action’s sake. I’m not sure what they are faced with the goal of capturing new positions and move forward. We believe they now have neither the resources nor the capacity for such action.
— Always wonder what makes people take up arms and go to war in a foreign country. It’s not an easy decision because you have to kill people on the other side of the front.
— The infantry and artillery there is a peculiar advantage. 2016 year I spent in the artillery. This advantage is that unlike, for example, from snipers, I can’t say with certainty that someone died from my hands. It’s not like in Syria, where mostly is a melee with guns. Now the war in Ukraine is in the trenches, and each other working artillery. People are just waiting if someone will go into the breach to stop them. Personally, I’m a little involved in such operations. And contact — kilometer 700 meters. You shoot there, where is the fire. Send the fire, but who destroyed the combat point, hard to say. In this regard, the soldiers easier, because there is no clear understanding of what specifically is on your hands someone died.
In fact, I asked myself, what motivates a person who takes up arms. Many laugh, but I am by nature a pacifist. In Minsk I was detained for participating in anti-war pickets under our Ministry. I participated in the world of Autonomous movement Food Not Bombs, drawing people’s attention to the fact that weapons are spent huge funds when there are social problems. I am opposed to the war. In Ukraine, the war caught me when I was already on the Maidan. I realized and remembered how it all began in Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia, Russia is the beast with which conversations can not be.
I would be very happy if these people came with arms and offered to sit down to talk. I’d have went and would cover them if they would like to go for dialogue. I see that specific Russian agents since 2009 is the fact the exercise was conducted under the banners that now hang in the DNI and LC. Even then, everything has been designed, there are video archives, where you can track the exercises of the Cossacks. I say this to the fact that they didn’t come here to talk and to peacefully resolve the separation of Eastern Ukraine to Russia, they came to expand their Empire. At that time, in his young age, and now I understand the situation.
— How many Belarusians are fighting on the front line in Ukraine?
— According to our information, at least 200 people. They are scattered in different parts of battalions. In “Azov” in 2014 was about 30 Belarusians. We, as tactical group “Belarus” originated on the basis of “Right sector”. As an independent group we are in different units, the volunteer units of the APU. We are given a task, and thus we act.
— You are integrated in the system of the APU?
Not quite. We are volunteers who decide where our help is needed and with the permission of the parts that stand in a certain place, with agreement with them we work, we coordinate their actions with the regular forces.
— How Ukrainians perceive Belarusians who are fighting with them hand in hand?
— They are grateful. I am very glad that many Ukrainians know that the Belarusian language is the closest to Ukrainian. More than 80% of the words we have in common. Over time, my views have changed, I mean I advocating that to solve the word, but if you come with a gun no mood for conversation, you would’ve tried, nothing has changed. There are examples of unarmed resistance — Mahatma Gandhi and so on. But I personally do not believe that this way to resolve the situation with Russia.
— Return to Belarus, as far as we know, for people like you, closed?
— Against those who participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine in Belarus opened more than one hundred criminal cases. So said the Minister Shunevich in 2016. This deals with the cdoc, and we ascribe mercenary. Lukashenko said that we get 10 thousand dollars a month, and tried to reduce everything to the fact that we are there for profit. For all the time I did not sign any contracts. Material reward for my presence and performance of duties at the front I received.
I — volunteer who fights for his idea. We stand, we have our own views on life. Help us fuel security, this is all we get from the Ukrainians, Belarusians. To call us mercenaries, not even by qualifying the UN. In 2016 Belarus was amended article the Criminal code, on mercenary activities and amended, which allows to judge including the participation in conflict for ideological reasons.
— Is there a flow of Belarusians have come to Ukraine? Your numbers are growing?
— Surprisingly, at the end of 2016 in us in the group went to completion. The flow of people increased after the loud statements from the Russian side, when the big television discussing such issues as “whether under the Russian side independent Belarus”, “Lukashenka acts in the interests of the West” that “the Belarusian language is invented”. It begins what it was before the invasion of Georgia, Ukraine. And the people were drawn. Many people write to us. But we fear that we will get recruited men, intelligence agents. So we check them as. Ukrainians call it “cgbpouae”. Everyone we don’t accept. If we did, we could now say that Ukraine has Belarusian battalion.
— People deliberately cut off their way back home?
Yes. There is an understanding that they have not come back. But those who are fighting on the side of DND and LNR, returned safely home, give interviews, and do not touch them. There’s a lot of examples. Belsat did material about people who fought on the side of the terrorists, come to Minsk, photos with weapons, and they’re good. These people do not touch, they are fighting for “Russian world”, and he told us (Belarusian authorities — DELFI) fraternal. If they (the authorities — DELFI) moved the “Russian world,” Putin may even more angry. These people come to the teachings, open training camps on the territory of Belarus. If I’m not mistaken, in Belarus there are various Cossack camp. People who come from fighters, provide training. Officers of the Belarusian police also participate in the exercise. There are facts, and they are all available online.
— The war is already not the first year. How do you see the future? Is there any end to this conflict? It is hoped that he will stop?
— There is always hope, but there is such a thing as reality. We see that wherever connected the UN with its proposals for a peaceful settlement, everywhere is freezing the conflict. I see that Russia is interested in this, but Ukraine is not interested in the liberation of the East of the country. Therefore, the situation will evolve as follows: while there is Russia, and Putin in power, the conflict will be frozen. Putin is negotiating from a position of strength, leads a conversation on federalism, the sharing of fighters on captured Ukrainians. He speaks from a position of strength, and therefore it is necessary to speak from a position of strength.
The Ukrainian government is not yet ready to liberate the occupied Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. We see a situation, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, when the international community tried to freeze the situation. And Putin is profitable. But there are other moments. Now the threat hanging over Belarus. At the time, when the battalion UNA UNSO took part in one of the Chechen wars, Russia on the side of the Chechens, its head has answered the question of why he was fighting in Chechnya: I’m now on the front lines in Chechnya, in order not to be in Ukraine. So I now understand the threat to their country and want the current Russia, I mean Putin and his entourage, ceased to exist.
Russia itself as a hostile country, I can not see, I did not do anything, but we’re dealing with the government. I oppose the Imperial ambitions of Russia. We are now in Marinka are three Russians, one even former military personnel who are fighting on the side of Ukraine. I will say that the Russians are not my enemy. I want to have harmony between neighbors, everyone to be equal, as Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and not as now, when Russia is trying to be the big brother to impose his views and vision of the situation from a position of strength.
