"We need military experience, to train, because Belarus is ahead." A comrade-in-arms remembers Miroslav Lozovsky
On May 16, Miroslav Lozovsky, one of the former leaders of the "White Legion", who had recently fought as part of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, died near Bakhmut. He was 49 years old. Vasyl "Patsuk" Verameychyk, Lozovsky's former commander and junior officer, told "Svaboda" about his fallen comrade-in-arms.
Miroslav Lozovsky
"His beard comically stuck out from under his helmet"
"I can't recall the exact first moment we saw each other and met. It seems it was the evening of the fifth day of the war. Our group arrived late in the evening in Kyiv. We went to a school to the 'Azov' base, but there was no place to sleep. And as a result, we moved to another place, the so-called ATEC, another formation point of the Azov movement. It was already night, a huge room, filled with men of different ages. We just lay down to sleep on the floor wherever there was space. It seems that was where I first saw 'Mysha' (Lozovsky's call sign), Myrik, Miroslav," Vasyl recounts.
According to the interlocutor, they got to know each other better later.
"I remember him coughing, because we all got sick. They say it was COVID, because some even ended up in the hospital. But absolutely everyone got sick. I remember 'Mysha' coughing, and then putting on his body armor, helmet, and his beard comically sticking out from under it. I was surprised, 'What kind of old man is this?' We somehow communicated, but not very intensely."
Later, the first Belarusian platoon was formed, its commander became Pavel "Volat" Suslav (died in May 2022 in Mykolaiv region. - RFE/RL), and Vasyl Verameychyk became the commander of the first unit and deputy platoon commander.
Miroslav Lozovsky. Photo: MotolkoHelp
"As for Myrik, I was afraid that such an elderly, serious person would not listen and there would be problems. But it turned out to be the exact opposite: he didn't want glory, he didn't want to command, he wanted to do the work and learn. When I became the commander of the first platoon, I made 'Mysha' the commander of the first unit and deputy platoon commander. And from then on, we always worked side by side. We slept in the same rooms, went on the same missions."
"Hello! You go there"
Vasyl recalls that they were together in Irpin in March 2022, trying to reach the positions where Belarusian fighters were located.
"Then, when we arrived in Mykolaiv, our Ukrainian commander called me simply 'Nachkar' (head of the guard) for a long time. He couldn't remember my call sign or my name. The thing is, at first, Belarusians were brought in to perform guard duty for foreigners. And I didn't sleep for a day, organizing the guard service. But within a day or two, everything was organized. Comrade 'Tarena' was also a military man, like me, we understood how everything should work. When everything was organized, I gradually handed over the duties to 'Mysha', and then he took care of everything, which is routine, difficult military work. Those who think that war is always fun, emotions, battles... No, it's tedious work. You have to make lists, carry things."
"Patsuk" tells a funny moment about how Miroslav instructed the guard service for foreigners.
"Mysha, unfortunately, didn't know English. Imagine, an briefing before a shift, and all he could say was: 'Hello! You go there.' There might have been a shift with a Belarusian, a Spaniard, and a Frenchman, but none of them spoke English. Communication happened almost with gestures."
"High will and ideal"
According to Verameychyk, Lozovsky was a person of very high moral standards; he always refused any offered positions.
"When 'Volat' passed away, I told Miroslav, 'You'll be the platoon commander.' To this he replied: 'How can I be a platoon commander if I have no military education or experience?'"
Miroslav Lozovsky. Photo: MotolkoHelp
Another characteristic moment was the discussions within what was then the Kastuś Kalinoŭski battalion regarding participation in a risky operation near the village of Lazova on the border of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. Some fighters refused to participate, while others agreed.
"Then 'Mysha' told one commander: 'How can we decline the operation? We would let down the honor of Belarusians then. Secondly, we need military experience, to train, because Belarus is ahead.' To this, the commander replied: 'You're almost 50, Myrik, what Belarus?! Are you crazy or something?' This is very indicative of what an idealist 'Mysha' was."
Lozovsky participated in the operation near Lazova. Moreover, he was placed at the very front posts, close to the Russians. That operation was successful for the Ukrainian army.
"'Mysha' had great will and an ideal. His knee hurt, it was difficult for him. In Sievierodonetsk, Myrik was appointed commandant of the post; he had to coordinate all the foreign posts. He was appointed that way, and then people started saying that he was speaking very poorly, it turned out that he hadn't slept for 28 hours. He was covering for someone so the guys could sleep, and he himself didn't sleep at all. I had to force him to go to sleep," Verameychyk recalls.
"Entering Bakhmut: when I get out, I'll call"
The "Svaboda" interlocutor says that Lozovsky was the most authoritative commander among the Belarusian fighters.
"Mysha" was such an idealist and intellectual that no one could say a bad word about him. It's some kind of fate, gods, they are showing us something. Such a coincidence that he and "Volat" died on the same day. I believe that such things don't just happen. Losing such people is terrible. I still have correspondence with "Volat" on the day of his death, where he wrote: "I will reply within 24 hours." It's the same situation with "Mysha." He wrote to me: "I'll call you now." Then: "No, I won't call. We're entering Bakhmut, but not for long; when I get out, I'll call."
Lozovsky taught other fighters commands in Belarusian, constantly engaged in self-education, and was a fan of the Napoleonic Wars.
"Myrik was constantly engaged in self-education, he had an American military manual on his phone, a U.S. Army Ranger handbook, a U.S. guard duty manual; he tried to do everything very militarily. I believe that after a year in the war, he had matured into a true officer's position. And since there are no others, he would have been an ideal candidate for the commander of the 'Volat' battalion."
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