Photo Exhibition Showcasing the Kalinowski Regiment Now Open in Lviv
A new documentary photo exhibition titled 'Kalinowski Regiment: The Long Road Home' has been unveiled in Lviv, dedicated to the combat journey of Belarusian volunteers fighting within Ukraine's Defense Forces. The exhibition also sheds light on their determination to return to Belarus, where they face serious danger due to their opposition to the Lukashenko regime. The event is hosted at the House of the Warrior and will be on display until December 3, 2026.
Most of the photographs are mounted on cardboard boxes, symbolizing the constant relocations and the unsettled lives these fighters lead far from their homeland. The Kalinowski Regiment took part in defending the Kyiv region during the spring of 2022, engaging in battles around Bucha and Irpin before moving southward. Volunteers fought in the Mykolaiv region and participated in the counteroffensive in Kherson. They also saw combat in Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in Luhansk, Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, as well as in the Kharkiv area. The regiment currently continues its operations on the Zaporizhzhia front.
Challenges and Obstacles Faced
The Belarusian and Russian authorities have labeled the Kalinowski Regiment as extremist and terrorist. To protect their relatives in Belarus from retaliation, some volunteers’ faces are blurred in the photographs. The regiment has suffered over 40 casualties, with two members held captive by Russia. According to Konstantin Sushik, more than 100 Belarusians have died in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Belarusian fighters also encounter legal difficulties in Ukraine. They are ineligible for the Hero of Ukraine title, and families of fallen Belarusian volunteers holding Belarusian or Russian passports cannot receive posthumous benefits. Belarusian passports are valid for ten years but cannot be renewed or replaced within Ukraine. Konstantin Sushik comments:
'Many passports are expiring, and we cannot renew or replace them here. This creates bureaucratic obstacles that delay solutions. Laws need to be updated so those who chose to fight alongside Ukraine enjoy the same rights as Ukrainians.' - Konstantin Sushik
Formed as a battalion in March 2022 and upgraded to a regiment by May, the Kalinowski Regiment is named after Kastus Kalinowski, a leader of the January Uprising of 1863—a joint Belarusian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian resistance against the Russian Empire. Konstantin Sushik emphasizes the importance of this shared struggle:
'I believe we are fighting a common enemy here. While Ukraine faces military aggression, Belarus is occupied through other means. I'm convinced there can be no free Belarus without a free Ukraine. This is why we are united in this fight.' - Konstantin Sushik
The unveiling of the Kalinowski Regiment photo exhibition in Lviv plays a crucial role in recognizing the sacrifice and contribution of Belarusian volunteers to Ukraine’s independence. Beyond honoring their bravery, the exhibition highlights the complex challenges they face, particularly the bureaucratic hurdles within Ukraine. It calls on society and authorities alike to address these issues and ensure equal rights for these fighters. Moreover, the exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of the solidarity and shared aspirations for freedom and justice that unite Ukrainians and Belarusians in their resistance against aggression.