The Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment: Auxiliaries to Ukraine or an Autonomous Politico-Military Actor?

This chapter argues that the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, which comprises Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, has limited autonomy in the military sphere because of its integration into the host army. However, as an aspiring political actor, it has far greater autonomy because (i) it does not interfere in Ukraine’s domestic politics while playing a role in Belarusian opposition politics and (ii) its political messages do not contradict the official position of Ukraine. The chapter illustrates the regiment’s political subjectivity through its stance toward the regime of Lukashenka, distinct from that of Ukraine. It also shows that different motivations drive Ukraine and the regiment’s respective non-recognition of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The chapter draws on interviews with the Belarusian opposition, interviews with scholars that are working on the regiment, and the official communication of the regiment.