Pahonia Regiment
Білоруський полк «Погоня»
Biloruśký polk "Pohoňa"
Беларускі полк «Пагоня»
Biełaruski połk "Pahonia"
Pahonia regiment chevron
Active30 March 2022 - 2023
Country Ukraine
Branch Territorial Defense Forces
TypeForeign volunteer regiment
RoleTerritorial defence
SizeUnknown
Part ofInternational Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Telegram channel

The Pahonia Regiment[lower-alpha 1] was a group of Belarusian opposition volunteers, which was formed to defend Ukraine against the 2022 Russian invasion.

In July 2023, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the Pahonia Regiment ceased to exist.[1]

History

On March 30, 2022, political activist Vadzim Prakopieu announced the beginning of the formation of the Belarusian Pahonia Regiment as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine.[2] On March 31, 2022, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced the unit's formation via social media.[3]

The regiment was created on the initiative of Belarusian officers, many of whom had served already in the Pahonia detachment during the War in Donbas (2014–2022). Its recruiting center is located in Warsaw.[2]

In June 2022, it became known that the first group of fighters of the Pahonia Regiment signed contracts with the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine.[4] In the same month, "Pahonia" became known as "special purpose regiment".[5] The regiment's fighters are trained by American Matthew Parker, one of the instructors of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine.[6]

On September 14, 2022, Vadzim Prakopieu, one of the founders of the regiment and assistant commander, left the regiment.[7]

In October 25, 2022, it became known that the air reconnaissance team of the Pursuit Regiment had transferred to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, another unit of Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine.[8]

On October 28, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus recognized the Pahonia Regiment as an "extremist formation".[9] They are among the list of 625 persons to be deemed as extremists.[10]

In November 2022, fighters of the Pahonia Regiment, together with Belarusians permanently living in Ukraine, founded the public association "Pahonia". Kickboxer Vitaly Gurkov became its director.[11]

In November 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing its support for the Pahonia Regiment.[12]

In July 2023, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the Pahonia Regiment ceased to exist.[1]

Losses

On September 26, 2022, in the Battle of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, Alyaksei Veshchavaylau, a fighter of the Pahonia Regiment was killed.[13][14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ukrainian: Білоруський полк «Погоня», romanized: Biloruśký polk "Pohoňa", Belarusian: Беларускі полк «Пагоня», romanized: Biełaruski połk "Pahonia".

References

  1. 1 2 "Колькі беларускіх добраахвотнікаў ваюе ва Ўкраіне і дзе. Абноўлены гайд па ўсіх фармаваньнях". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  2. 1 2 Белорусы начали создавать полк «Погоня» в составе Вооруженных сил Украины
  3. ↑ "How Belarusian Fighters in Ukraine Evolved Into Prominent Force Against Russian Invasion". VOA.
  4. ↑ "Першая група байцоў палка "Пагоня" падпісвае кантракты з ССА Украіны | Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm". euroradio.fm.
  5. ↑ ""Пагоня" стала называцца "палком спецыяльнага прызначэння" | Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm". euroradio.fm.
  6. ↑ "Байцоў беларускага палка "Пагоня" трэніруе амерыканец Мэцью Паркер | Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm". euroradio.fm.
  7. ↑ "Вадзім Пракоп'еў пакідае полк «Пагоня», каб дапамагаць Сахашчыку". Наша Ніва.
  8. ↑ "«Мы понимаем, что будем бок о бок вести боевые действия в Беларуси». Полк «Пагоня» прокомментировал переход части бойцов к калиновцам". Зеркало. October 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "У Беларусі прызналі "экстрэмісцкімі" Цапкалу і полк "Пагоня" | Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm". euroradio.fm.
  10. ↑ "Belarus lists military unit members among 625 'extremists'". AP NEWS. October 28, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Кікбаксёр Віталь Гуркоў узначаліў "Пагоню" | Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm". euroradio.fm.
  12. ↑ "JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus". europarl.europa.eu. 2022-11-22.
  13. ↑ "«Ва Ўкраіне — назаўжды». У Кіеве назвалі імя грамадзяніна Беларусі, які загінуў пад Бахмутам. Што пра яго вядома". Радыё Свабода.
  14. ↑ "Ва Ўкраіне загінуў беларускі баец палку «Пагоня»". Радыё Свабода.
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