Kalinouski Regiment Fighter Shurmei: It's Time To Act

Only Belarusians determine the fate of Belarus.

"The fate of free Belarus is decided here and now. We have to do a lot of work, to really unite," said a volunteer of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment (KKR) Pavel Shurmei (call sign "Dziadzka") in an address on the occasion of Freedom Day - the 106th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Belarusian People's Republic.

As writes "Pozirk", the corresponding video is published on the KKR's Telegram channel.

"The big wave of emigration of recent years has randomly scattered Belarusians all over the world. We are not together - and this is our weakness," said Shurmei.

According to him, the KKR has "proved its fighting ability" for two years of its existence. "The Kremlin puppet Lukashenka is afraid of us. His master Putin wants to expand the war. And this time it will not be possible to sit on the sidelines. The war will touch everyone," emphasised the volunteer.

"Those who stayed in their homeland have a choice - to become cannon fodder in Putin's army or to stand together with us and provide themselves and their children with a decent future in independent European Belarus. Don't wait for this choice to be made for you," added the military officer.

Addressing the "Belarusians abroad," he said: "Perhaps you have found relative peace and comfort, but not your homeland. If you, like me, are dreaming that we and our children can live in a free Belarus, it's time to act."

At the end of the appeal, Shurmei urged "all real Belarusians" to join the regiment, as "only Belarusians decide the fate of Belarus."

Shurmei, 47, is a native of Lida, Hrodna Region, an athlete, rower, and participant of two Olympics.

In March 2022 he joined the KKR and was wounded. He was awarded the BPR medal for bravery.

A criminal case has been opened against Shurmei in Belarus.

The Kastus Kalinouski Battalion was established on March 9, 2022. On March 26 of the same year it joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and on May 21 it was announced about its transformation into a regiment consisting of two battalions - "Volat" and "Teror". Later, a third battalion - "Lytvin" - was formed. Subsequently, "Teror" became a separate AFU unit outside the regiment.

On September 25, 2023, the KKR announced the creation of a new "Western" battalion with the participation of foreigners, which included "officers from NATO countries and foreign nationals with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan".

A criminal case has been initiated in Belarus over the creation of the Kalinouski regiment, it was recognised as an "extremist formation".