Mikita Zabuga received an award from Tsikhanouskaya with lieutenant colonel's insignia. He explained how
In spring 2025, Mikita Zabuga went to war, and now, a year later, he has already gained a high rank. How is this possible?
Mikita Zabuga has a rich biography. A father of three children, he came to Maidan in 2014 and participated in excavations in Lithuania, where the remains of Kastus Kalinouski and his comrades-in-arms were found. After 2020, Zabuga headed the Heraldic Council, which developed the design for the passport of New Belarus.
In April 2025, Mikita announced that he had joined the Kalinouski Regiment and now serves as the head of UAV supply for the unit in the Zaporizhzhia direction. A year later, in May 2026, Zabuga attended Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's meeting with Belarusian volunteers in Kyiv. On his uniform, two stars could be seen – a sign that the man holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Belarusians in Ukraine were outraged: usually, foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine are not given high ranks. How, then, could Zabuga receive such insignia?
Mikita Zabuga explained to "Nasha Niva" that at the meeting he was wearing the uniform of the Belarusian Liberation Army (BLA). This is a project to create Belarusian units in EU countries and Ukraine, which are ultimately intended to go and liberate Belarus.
Mikita Zabuga commented on the lieutenant colonel's insignia as follows:
"Individuals serving in military, paramilitary, and other organizations who have passed verification and been enlisted into the BLA receive military ranks within appropriate terms of service. I graduated from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and my officer rank is recognized within the BLA."
He admits that his rank of lieutenant colonel does not correspond to a rank in the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
"In the AFU, I expect a more modest officer rank. We are precisely promoting the idea of recognizing BLA ranks, their equivalence after receiving appropriate training or a position in the Ukrainian army."
As a historical example, Zabuga cites General Bulak-Balakhovich's army: "He did not wait for permission, and we do not need to either."
Zabuga answered who empowered the Belarusian Liberation Army:
"We have rights and powers based on the 1994 Constitution, which enshrines the people as the sole source of power. We – representatives of the people – created an initiative with broad representation and promote our goals and objectives. Moreover, we received approval for the formation of the BLA from the Rada of the BPR."
Among the achievements of the team creating the BLA, Mikita Zabuga listed the development of an awards system, army uniforms and insignia, a system of military ranks according to NATO standards, and the passport of New Belarus.
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