Belarusian Soldiers in Ukraine: Seeking Change Through Force After Anti-Lukashenko Protests

Belarusians who participated in the 2020 anti-Lukashenko protests and were met with brutal repression have now joined the Ukrainian army to fight against Russian forces. They hope that by helping Ukraine defeat Russia, they can bring about the downfall of Lukashenko and establish a democratic Belarus. While Belarus has not directly participated in the hostilities, it served as a launchpad for Russia's invasion, and some Belarusians have taken up arms to oppose the Russian aggression. The fighters seek to reclaim Belarus' history and culture from Soviet and Russian influences and are motivated by their desire to return to a democratic future in their home country.