Belarusian Soldier Killed in Ukraine
A 24-year-old Belarusian woman named Maria Zaitseva was killed in action on January 17. She was fighting for Ukraine near the town of Bakhmut.
Zaitseva joined the Ukrainian army last year when Russia started a full-scale war with Ukraine. She fought in the 2nd International Legion Battalion.
Just a day before she was killed, Zaitseva turned 24 years old.
She had previously been injured during protests against the Belarusian government in 2020. Zaitseva’s face was covered in blood after a flash grenade exploded near her. She suffered severe injuries to her arm and head at that time.
Belarus‘ opposition leader, Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya, described Maria as “an icon of our revolution“. Tsikhanouskaya said: “Gravely injured during the 2020 Belarus protests, she gave her life for freedom.”
Zaitseva was treated in a hospital in the Czech Republic after being injured. She had several surgeries and developed a hematoma in her brain. She also lost hearing in one ear.
Many Belarusians have joined the Ukrainian army since 2014. Over 60 of them have been killed in action, according to reports. In Belarus, people who join the fight risk imprisonment, and their families are often harassed by the government.
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