The Terror Battalion (Belarusian: Батальён “Тэрор”; Ukrainian: Батальйон “Терор”) was a military formation of Belarusian volunteers (formerly a company) fighting in the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Ukrainian side until November 2024. The unit was named after Dmytro Apanasovich [uk] (call sign “terror”) who died during the defense of Irpin, and was created in 2022.
History
Zmitser (Dmytro) Apanasovych (Belarusian: Зьміцер Мар’янавіч Апанасовіч) was a soldier of the Ukrainian volunteer battalion Kastus Kalinovsky who went by the call sign “Terror”: he died on 24 March 2022, from a combat wound near the city of Irpin.[2][3] In his honor, a new unit was formed, and its creation was announced in July 2022.[4][improper synthesis?] In August of that year, the unit was separated from the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment and became independent.[citation needed]
In September 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus recognized the Internet groups of the battalion and other Belarusian military formations in Ukraine as extremist formations;[5] creating and participating in an extremist organization is a criminal offense under Belarusian law.[6][improper synthesis?]
On 14 November 2022, one of the soldiers of the battalion received an award from Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Kherson.[7][better source needed]
On 27 December 2022, the battalion announced its entry into the Belarusian Volunteer Corps as one of its main units.[8][better source needed]
In November 2024, the unit dissolved. Some of the fighters joined the spetznaz of Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine.[9]
See also
References
- ^ “Здаецца, у Белгарадскай вобласці пабывалі беларускія добраахвотнікі” (in Belarusian). European Radio for Belarus. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023.
- ^ “Как погиб доброволец Дмитрий Апанасович? Рассказывают его соратники”. Наша Ніва (in Russian). 27 March 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ “Доброволец Сергей Беспалов – о белорусском батальоне Кастуся Калиновского”. ГОЛОС АМЕРИКИ (in Russian). 20 April 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ “Полк Каліноўскага фармуе трэці батальён – Беларуская Служба – polskieradio.pl”. polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ “МВД признало экстремистскими формированиями ресурсы Полка Калиновского, телеграм-каналы “Движ” и “Баста!”“. REFORM.by. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ “Интерпол отказался разыскивать Светлану Тихановскую; Путин и Лукашенко утвердили союзные программы. Главное в Беларуси за неделю”. BBC Росія (in Russian). 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ “Еўрарадыё | Еврорадио”. Telegram. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ “Батальён Тэрор”. Telegram. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ “Атрад беларускіх добраахвотнікаў «Тэрор» заявіў пра самароспуск” [The Belarusian volunteer detachment “Terror” announced its self-disbandment]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 12 November 2024.