Belarusian ATO Hero Involved Into Striking Photo Project Of Ukrainian Volunteers

“We are not alone in our disaster; very many people from various countries of the world offered us a helping hand.”

The authors of the voluntary photo project, dedicated to the ATO heroes, say so.

They created a series of photos telling stories of volunteers from different countries of the world, who are fighting in Donbass at Ukraine’s side. Among the characters of the photo project there are representatives of Belarus, Georgia, Croatia, Chechnya, Canada, Israel, Sweden, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Poland and the Isle of Man (the crown dependency of Great Britain).

Ihar Kliauko, mostly known as “The Lion”, who is fighting with the battalion of special designation “Donbass”, has become the Belarusian hero.

“I participated in the liberation of the towns of Artemivsk, Popasna, Lisichansk, Kurakhovo, Ilovaisk, in the squad of the 1st squadron of the 3rd platoon. We fulfilled various missions on mop-up during the liberation of the towns. I am an assaulter upon my military specialty, – Ihar tells, clearly articulating phrases in a military style. – “We were leaving Ilovaisk together with the intelligence group, a little earlier than the “green corridor”, taking away the wounded and the dead.

I have been staying in Ukraine for over two years, participating in the ATO, I live not far from Kyiv now. Of course I can return home, but the perspectives to be harassed by the authorities remain, let me say, very likely. In Belarus, I may face up to 7 years in prison for participation in an armed conflict at the territory of another state. I have no way back but one can always pave the way forward. They already raided our house – my father told me this, and even passed me a copy of the search protocol. So, I see no point in being in jail there like Nelson Mandela with no use of it. Therefore, I am here now.”