He died at the very end of the battle from a Russian sniper's bullet — Urbanovich on the death of Miroslav Lazovsky
In a conversation with «Svaboda», Dzianis Urbanovich recalled the circumstances in which Miroslav Lazovsky, co-founder of the "White Legion", died on May 16 near Bakhmut.
Miroslav Lazovsky
At the end of May, Dzianis Urbanovich, leader of the «Malady Front» (Young Front), a Belarusian volunteer from the «Volat» battalion, was wounded again in the battle for Bakhmut.
This happened just a few days before Ukrainian forces left Bakhmut.
In the same battle, Urbanovich's commander and combat friend, the former founder of the "White Legion", Miroslav Lazovsky, died. Also, four more Belarusian fighters from Urbanovich's group. According to Dzianis, he was also on the verge of death. He was saved by the fighters whom Lazovsky himself had brought into the regiment. Dzianis Urbanovich spoke about some of the circumstances of that and other battles for Bakhmut in a conversation with «Svaboda».
«Only now have I returned to the unit's location. First I was undergoing treatment, then on leave. They almost forcibly sent me to the Carpathian mountains to recover after the injury, and most importantly, to regain psychological stability. Because I survived myself, but lost close friends with whom I went on missions, with whom I risked so many times, helping each other. It was very hard morally; I simply didn't want to live. Only now is it letting go,» — Dzianis Urbanovich shared.
Russians attacked without 'body armor'
Urbanovich called the battles for Bakhmut before the city's capture «the most brutal and bloody in which he had to participate».
According to the Belarusian, both warring sides showed resilience and will to win in these battles.
Urbanovich does not undertake to claim whether Wagner fighters specifically fought on the Russian side.
He says that by the uniform of the fallen Russians, whose bodies remained lying in front of the positions, it was impossible to determine which unit they belonged to.
According to the Belarusian fighter, many Ukrainian servicemen fought alongside the soldiers of the «Volat» battalion, and some of them died.
«One night, Ukrainians passed through our positions in a large group — many wounded, terribly exhausted. They walked like zombies amidst artillery fire. Everyone got hit there,» — Dzianis Urbanovich noted and recalled the most horrible battle he had seen.
«Russians advanced wave after wave. There was an attack when they went forward even without 'body armor'. The day before, we had taken positions and hadn't left them for three days; it was already impossible to go, we were practically fighting in encirclement. The fire on our positions was insane — they shelled us with everything they could. First, we defended ourselves in one house, which later burned down. We almost melted alive there, but somehow managed to move to a neighboring house, a three-story one. It saved us initially, but then virtually became a grave for half the group. Something powerful hit — and the house collapsed on us. I remember the rest in fragments,» — Dzianis Urbanovich confesses.
«They passed grenades to ours for self-detonation»
Urbanovich remembers digging himself out and how he vomited heavily because he had been hit on the head by stones.
He says he also remembers shooting back for a while.
Russian soldiers were approaching him, and then came the moment when he decided that he wouldn't be able to escape, and surrendering was not an option.
He kept a grenade ready.
According to the volunteer, he was lucky because a group sent to help and evacuate the wounded arrived just in time.
Miroslav Lazovsky led it, says Urbanovich.
The fighter recalled that he was carried away from the bombed-out house and laid behind the kindergarten building.
Other defenders of the three-story building were less fortunate.
«It was impossible to get some out. How can you get them out when multi-ton concrete slabs are lying on their legs? Those who were conscious asked for grenades to be passed to them — they blew themselves up. Only one could be dug out, but he didn't move. Apparently, his spine was broken. He refused evacuation, saying: «I don't want to be an immobile disabled person». He was over 50 years old. As a farewell, he said: «It's nothing, I've already lived...» The other fighters in the group all received severe wounds but survived, and all are now recovering,» — Dzianis Urbanovich said about the fighters he commanded.
«Lazovsky paused and quietly added: «Go with God!»
Dzianis Urbanovich says he did not directly see the moment of Miroslav Lazovsky's death because he himself was already beyond the line of battle.
But he remembers the words with which Miroslav sent the group on their mission.
It seemed to Dzianis then that the commander had a premonition.
«It was already very difficult there. Some didn't want to go there, saying it was hellish fire, suicide. When we advanced to the position, I also had a bad premonition. But here we are, and what to do? I contacted Miroslav one last time: «What are the orders?»
And he ordered us to hold, warned about this or that danger, and advised us to act according to the situation. And then, after a brief pause, he quietly added: «Go with God!» He had never spoken like that before, never mentioned God. But this last time, he did.»
According to Dzianis Urbanovich's information, Miroslav Lazovsky died at the very end of the battle from a Russian sniper's bullet.
Farewell to Miroslav Lazovsky in Kyiv. Photo: Kalinouski Regiment
«The guys said that a Russian sniper supposedly killed him with a precise shot to the head.
He might have been five to ten meters short of reaching our positions, where he would have been hidden.
Miroslav was not just returning from a mission, but was returning from evacuating our group.
He was carrying our weapons.
If he had been without this burden, maybe he would have crossed the fire-swept zone faster.
And he was also carrying a machine gun.
The Russians managed to position a sniper in the house where we were defending; he hunted everyone from there.
That's what they told me…»
«Reached important heights controlling Bakhmut»
According to Dzianis Urbanovich, there are many Russian troops in Bakhmut now, but Ukrainian forces have held positions nearby and are gradually closing the semicircle.
«The Azovites (fighters of the "Azov" unit, restored after the battles for Mariupol. — RFE/RL) are now fighting there and, as they say, very successfully.
They have reached important heights that control the city, and in some places even pushed the Russians back.
Apparently, the fighting there has calmed down a bit; everyone is preparing for a new phase.
We'll see what happens and where our unit will be redeployed.
The war continues,» — says Dzianis Urbanovich.
According to the volunteer, he has another medical commission ahead of him, which will decide whether he can return to the front due to his health.
Dzianis himself wants this, but agrees that each time after an injury, getting permission to return becomes more difficult.
«Last time, Miroslav helped me return with his advice, but what will happen now, I don't know.
But I hope my military experience will still be useful,» — says Urbanovich.
Read also:
«If I die, bury my ashes under any oak tree». A comrade-in-arms remembers Miroslav Lazovsky
«He didn't make it by just a little». Miroslav Lazovsky's comrade-in-arms on his death
Miroslav Lazovsky: «And now I would like to participate in correcting the demographic situation!»
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