Vadzim Prakopyeu: Belarusians Will Open Second Front In Favor Of Ukraine
- 5.03.2022, 16:25
Hundreds of Belarusian volunteers are already fighting on the side of the Ukrainians.
Well-known Belarusian public figure and businessman Vadzim Prakopyeu has spoken with Ukraine 24 channel.
"We welcome a Belarusian who came to Ukraine to fight on our side."
"As for me coming to Ukraine to fight — this is a bit of an exaggeration. I have not yet been assigned to a military unit, I am working on the information front. And we will try to broadcast massively on Belarus, so that (the Belarusian military — edit.) surrender, so that they come over to our side, so that they act correctly if they are given an order to attack on the ground. We are also gathering Belarusian volunteers. Now I finally managed to reach the commander of the Foreign Legion. We need 300 volunteers, I will now make a call.
In addition, there are already more than 200 Belarusians in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and, unfortunately, we have suffered losses. A Belarusian died yesterday, "Litvin" by call sign. In addition, many Belarusians work in the rear. We did a roll-call, it turned out that 5,700 people are helping the Ukrainians in the rear."
"Tell me, how do you assess the chances that the Belarusian army will try to enter this war on the side of Russia? It is clear that Lukashenka has no choice. But seeing what is happening with the Russian troops in Ukraine, he is unlikely to send the Belarusian army to sure death."
"He feels that these troops will turn against him at some point. So I'm taking on a lot for the time being to estimate the likelihood of a ground invasion as low. I know that planes fly from Belarusian air bases. The list of pilots is known, I am verifying this list of pilots with the help of the Cyber Partisans. And it seems to me that there are Russian pilots at Belarusian airfields. I assess the probability of a ground invasion (by the Belarusian army - edit.) as low. We receive information about the extremely low morale of the Belarusian soldiers, they are ready to quit, withdraw from the contract. I hope that together we will not allow this invasion to happen. And if it suddenly starts, I believe and predict a massive transfer to captivity or to the side of the Ukrainians."
"What is the mood among the peaceful citizens of Belarus? Because now is the time, if not to make an uprising, then at least to clearly state one's position and start peacefully blocking exits from military bases and in this way not let Belarusians die."
"I want to apologize to all Ukrainians and take a piece of shame on myself. But you must understand that the country is occupied, that everyone is occupied, everyone is quickly arrested. I understand when we are told: look at the footage from Kharkiv, when civilians come out to face tanks. Belarus is not in that position, 800 people were arrested for the last action. The fact that the country is occupied must be understood. I think that developments will tell us what actions we can take. I also think that if there were Belarusian armed forces within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, then all we would need is weapons. Supply us with weapons and we will be ready to open a second front. Civil resistance is extremely suppressed, it is very difficult. And when Dmytro Gordon says “why don’t you run and beat them there, look how Ukrainians do it,” he is a little disingenuous. Now is not the time to quarrel, now is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians. Nevertheless, Dmytro Gordon made a very creamy, very sycophantic interview with Lukashenka once. Now I have zero complaints about Gordon, he is a worthy person. In addition, Ukraine bought electricity and oil products exactly when we needed a trade embargo. Crossed out. Supply us with weapons, give us some strength, the people will follow us. We will open a second front."
"I would like to believe that the second front will be opened. But, to be honest, we do not quite understand the fear of Belarusians here. We also hear about the fear of Russians to speak out. But if we put on the scales 15 days of arrest for a rally and death in a Ukrainian forest, then it would be more logical to choose arrest, not death. Why are people afraid to choose this option?"
"I think we will see a large number of such people. I say with pain in my heart that some event should happen, some kind of trouble should happen on the territory of Belarus. Then there will be a massive civil protest. But if this mass civil protest is not supported by force, we will again choke. We will again be sent to prisons, given frantic sentences, and someone will be shot. I bear part of the shame for the Belarusians, but please understand us too. This civil protest, I think, we will see again."
"I would like to believe that we will see it again. I really do not want to have Belarusians as another enemy. So far, we have not yet crossed this line, after which there will be a break in all relations. If the Belarusian army crosses the border, then you understand that this is actually all."
"We are ready for a scenario when the Belarusians, who were forced to stand against the Ukrainians, will go over to this side. I'm sure we can do this. Probably, we will also see a civil protest. We do everything we can to help Ukrainians. 300 volunteers are ready to join the Foreign Legion. I think that our opposition headquarters should take responsibility, and act in the same way."