Belarusian volunteers spearhead daring Ukrainian advance in Kursk
- Like a knife through butter - this is how a Belarusian volunteer with the pseudonym "Żerar" describes the move into the Kursk region in Russia. One of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region is the armoured unit "Tur", which is part of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion, mainly composed of Belarusian volunteers.
A video showing a tank under the white-red-white flag entering the Kursk region in Russia was sent to Belsat by a Belarusian soldier with the call sign "Żerar". He is the commander of the armoured vehicle evacuation department of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Unprecedented attack on Russia
"Żerar" is currently in Ukraine as part of a rotation but promises to return to Russia soon to continue supporting the Ukrainian operation.
The operation carried out by Ukraine surprised the entire world. According to "Żerar", Ukrainian forces managed to penetrate Russian territory in record time, thanks to careful planning and coordinated actions.
"Żerar" emphasized that the battalion he commanded was the first to cross the border of the Kursk region. - We entered there like a knife through butter. Everything went very smoothly. If every step is well planned and everyone performs their tasks 100 per cent, then everything goes great - noted the commander originating from Belarus.
He also confirmed information that "a very large number" of prisoners of war fell into Ukrainian hands. - During major offensives on Kherson or Izyum, there wasn't even a close number of prisoners - he said in an interview with Belsat.
Previously, the media reported about approximately 2,000 Russian prisoners of war, while the Financial Times a few days ago estimated this number at 2,500. So why are the Russians massively abandoning their weapons?
- The command simply abandoned them - explained "Żerar". - They had no communication, no supply of food and water. After three days without food and water, you start to die slowly. Most people just decided to surrender - he added.
"Children" abandoned by commanders
Most of the prisoners are conscripts who "have little to do with war." "Żerar" calls them "children". - They are 18-23 years old and claim they did not want and did not intend to fight - he adds.
- Regardless of whether they are children or not, they held weapons and fired - emphasized the soldier. - And when our assault units entered there, clashes began in which Russian soldiers died. They died in large numbers because they were untrained, unprepared. They did not have enough ammunition, they were exhausted because they lacked water and food. They died, and those who had something in their heads made a wise decision and surrendered.
The images from the operation in the Kursk region are very different from what could be seen during the Russian offensive at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region in no way resembles Bucha, where Russians committed large-scale violence against civilians and war crimes.
For the first few days, "Żerar" and his unit almost did not see civilians. He first encountered locals only on the fifth or sixth day of the operation.
- No one welcomes us with bread and salt, as some describe it, but at least there is no aggression towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine - stated the commander.
According to him, the aggression from the locals is felt towards Vladimir Putin instead. "Żerar" recounted that an elderly local woman told him that "with Ukrainians, we are brothers, we have always been friends" and that "this whole war is one big mistake, from the very beginning I said this is not the way."
"Żerar" admits that he does not believe in any peace talks regarding Ukraine. - All of Putin's proposals boil down to this: give me everything, and leave nothing for yourselves. These are not negotiations; they are ultimatums. I believe there will be no negotiations until we reach Moscow, says the Belarusian volunteer.
