| Pahonia Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Білоруський полк «Погоня» Biloruśký polk "Pohoňa" Беларускі полк «Пагоня» Biełaruski połk "Pahonia" | |
 Pahonia regiment chevron | |
| Active | 30 March 2022 - 1 July 2023 |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Territorial Defense Forces |
| Type | Foreign volunteerregiment |
| Role | Territorial defence |
| Size | Unknown |
| Part of | International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official Telegram channel |
ThePahonia Regiment[a] was a group ofBelarusian opposition volunteers, which was formed to defendUkraine against the2022 Russian invasion.
In July 2023,Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the Pahonia Regiment ceased to exist.[1]
On March 30, 2022, political activist Vadzim Prakopieu announced the beginning of the formation of the Belarusian Pahonia Regiment as part of theInternational Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine.[2] On March 31, 2022, Belarusian opposition leaderSviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced the unit's formation via social media.[3]
The regiment was created on the initiative of Belarusian officers, many of whom had served already in thePahonia detachment during theWar in Donbas (2014–2022). Its recruiting center is located inWarsaw.[2]
In June 2022, it became known that the first group of fighters of the Pahonia Regiment signed contracts with theSpecial Operations Forces of Ukraine.[4] In the same month, "Pahonia" became known as "special purpose regiment".[5] The regiment's fighters are trained by American Matthew Parker, one of the instructors of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine.[6]
On September 14, 2022, Vadzim Prakopieu, one of the founders of the regiment and assistant commander, left the regiment.[7]
On October 25, 2022, it became known that the air reconnaissance team of the Pursuit Regiment had transferred to theKastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, another unit of Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine.[8]
On October 28, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus recognized the Pahonia Regiment as an "extremist group".[9] They are among the list of 625 persons to be deemed as extremists.[10]
In November 2022, fighters of the Pahonia Regiment, together with Belarusians permanently living in Ukraine, founded the public association "Pahonia". KickboxerVitaly Gurkov became its director.[11]
In November 2022, theEuropean Parliament adopted a resolution expressing its support for the Pahonia Regiment.[12]
In July 2023,Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the Pahonia Regiment ceased to exist.[1]
On September 26, 2022, in theBattle of Bakhmut in theDonetsk region, Alyaksei Veshchavaylau, a fighter of the Pahonia Regiment was killed.[13][14]
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