The Other Russia (Interview)

We speak with Roman Donetsky on his recent trip to Belarus.

A picture of Minsk’s Central Railway Station, taken during the trip.

Earlier today, we had the pleasure to speak with Roman Donetsky, one of the first Donbass milbloggers who is also a friend and associate of this blog. Rather than discuss the latest news from the front, we instead asked Roman about a trip he recently made to Belarus, the situation in Belarus and the attitudes of the locals.

Tell us, Roman, is this the first time you visited Belarus?

Roman: No, I’ve made the trip before.

When people in the West hear of Belarus nowadays, it’s often associated with Russia. In fact, many would be surprised to know Belarus is even its own country- But are Russia and Belarus really as close as it seems? Are there cultural and political distinctions that are overlooked?

Roman: There are no cultural differences. This is one culture. There are, however, political differences: And very serious ones. Russia and Belarus are different states. There are also some “Westernizers” in Belarus who believe that Belarus will be better off with the EU (like Ukraine). There are also local nationalists, who like neither Russia nor the EU. But such people (from the first and second categories) are by no means the majority.

The last time Belarus made headlines in Western countries was in June 2023, when Lukashenko brokered the peace deal between Wagner and the Russian Ministry of Defense. It was widely reported that Wagner units would be transferred to Belarus to assist in training Minsk’s army. Now, nearly a year later, is Wagner’s presence still felt in Belarus? If so, what are the views of civilians and the military in Belarus? - Is Wagner welcome?

Roman: While I didn't ask about Wagner, I can say this: There’s no sign of them there. Only Belarusian soldiers are found on the streets. There are no others present there, Wagner or otherwise.

Propaganda outlets in America and Europe constantly warn of the dangers of a “Belarusian intervention” in the Ukraine conflict on the side of Russia. How likely is the direct involvement of Belarusian troops?

Roman: The main component of the Belarusian army is conscript soldiers doing mandatory national service. These are guys who are 18-20 years old. All these guys are drafted into the army. It is impossible to launch such an army into battle purely for political reasons. The contract soldier component there is now growing, but taking into account the overall size of the Belarusian army, it is very small there. There is no point in sending one brigade into battle, it would not affect the outcome.

Russia has received significant support from Belarus throughout the special military operation. Do ordinary Belarusians share their government’s sympathies? Do the people of Belarus support the Russian Federation’s actions in Ukraine?

Roman: Most people perceive the Special Military Operation positively, but pay little attention at all to the events. This is of little interest to ordinary people (something that doesn’t concern them at all).

The Polish government is constantly complaining about supposed Belarusian aggression, Only last week Warsaw’s newly appointed Premier Tusk threatened to ban the import of Belarusian agricultural products. Is this real enmity, or is it all theatrics generated by Poland’s real controllers?

Roman: There is no Belarusian aggression against the nation of Poland. On the contrary: Everything is perceived as special provocations on the part of the Poles, and this is the view not just in Belarus.

Tensions between Minsk and Warsaw have existed for a long time. Suppose the Polish government seriously decided to attack Belarus, for example under the pretext of “protecting migrants”, how ready is Belarus to defend against an incursion?

They are ready enough to defend themselves, plus Russia will not remain on the sidelines If such a situation occurs. There are treaties in place.

Let’s move outside military topics for a little. What can you tell us about the economy of Belarus? We understand the economic “liberalization” process Russia underwent in the 1990s was not replicated in Belarus. How does this affect things such as prices, work security, taxation?

Roman: It is not too different to Russia. There are many private businesses in Belarus, including large shopping centers, private stores, and supermarket chains. Trading in markets is allowed, i.e., everything is. Prices and wages in Minsk are slightly higher than in Russia on average, but lower than in Moscow. Plus, there are global brands and networks. Salaries are comparable to certain Russian regions.

This final question is a little more personal. What surprised you the most during your trip? The resurgence of the Russian language?

Roman: There, the Russian language did not go away enough to talk about a resurgence. It is the main language, as it always has been. What struck me most was the relaxation of the people and the feeling of an absolutely peaceful country in an absolutely peaceful time. There are no signs of war in Belarus. It is a different world.

That concludes our brief interview, which we hope you found informative. We’d like to express our gratitude to Roman for taking the time to answer our questions, and for his assistance in launching this project.