Nearly one in four Belarusians fighting for Russia killed – report

October 13, Pozirk. At least 314 Belarusians who joined Russian forces as mercenaries in the war against Ukraine have been killed in action, according to hochuzhit.com, a Ukrainian service that helps Russian soldiers safely surrender.
These reported deaths account for roughly 24 percent of all known Belarusian nationals who signed military contracts with Russia. The actual number, however, is likely higher, as Russian authorities continue to conceal their losses.
Even so, the 314 confirmed deaths represent a significant toll for a nation of Belarus’ size. The project compared this figure to the 723 Belarusians killed over an entire decade of fighting in the Soviet–Afghan war.
The oldest person confirmed killed in action was Vasil Škornik, aged 63, while the youngest, Michaił Karańkoŭ, 18, is officially listed as missing.
On average, about six and a half months pass between the signing of a military contract and official confirmation of a soldier’s death, the project reported.
While many of those killed were recruited from Russian prisons, some Belarusians had previously served with the 5th Separate Special Forces Brigade based in Marjina Horka, Minsk region.
Not a single individual has faced prosecution in Minsk for fighting on the Russian side — a stark contrast to Belarusian volunteers defending Ukraine, who face severe punishment from the Belarusian authorities.
In February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Belarusian authorities providing support to the Kremlin by allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarusian territory and supplying Moscow with arms.
Łukašenka accuses Zelensky of refusing to negotiate peace
- PoliticsKGB labels nine people as “terrorists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, Security
- Economy
- EconomyOmani envoy presents credentials to Belarusian foreign ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights groups designate 13 people as former political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyRetail trade up 8.7 percent in January-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNo attempts at irregular entry from Belarus into Poland since mid-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ economy grows by 2 percent in nine monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus’ ideology workers define civil union as national security threatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian envoy discusses cargo shipping with senior Turkish trade officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNew reports of politically motivated persecution in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsVilnius Freedom Summit’s delegates urge Belarus to release all political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvia records seven-week low in attempts at irregular entry from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityCichanoŭskaja calls on Europe to unite against dictatorshipsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyŁukašenka offers farmlands, subsidies to EU-blacklisted Belarusian businessmanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SecurityCSTO drill in Belarus tests humanitarian aid deliveryThe material is available only to POZIRK+



