Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)

The Belarusian partisan movement emerged after the suppression of the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. In January, a Belarusian was arrested after an arson attack against a T-72 tank at Ściapianka railway station in Minsk.[2] The Cyber Partisans conducted a campaign of cyberattacks on the regime's internet infrastructure in mid-2021, including the release of personal information of thousands of regime officials, police, military, and regime propagandists.[3] On September 25, a partisan cell under Busły liaciać attacked an OMON base in Uručča with an incendiary mixture dropped from a drone,[4] and in December, another cell attacked a training base of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Valoŭščyna.[5] Throughout the year, partisans participated in blocking railways, destroying CCTV, damaging infrastructure used by the regime, and actions against regime officials.[6]

Partisan activity increased in the buildup to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In mid-January, the Cyber Partisans launched a cyberattack on infrastructure of Belarusian Railways, severely delaying the movement of Russian transport in Belarus; they stated they would decrypt the systems upon the release of 50 prisoners and Russian troops being removed from Belarus.[7] During the Battle of Kyiv, BYPOL and Belarusian partisans published information on how to disable railway signalling boxes, which severely disrupted the Russian logistic network.[8] In March near Babrujsk, regime security services fired on partisans who set fire railway signals;[9] and by late April there were at least 11 partisans detained.[10]

After the formation of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, and their assurances that they will liberate Belarus, representatives of BYPOL stated that they would welcome a national liberation of Belarus if circumstances allow it.[11]

On the 26th of February, 2023, a Beriev A-50 aircraft of the Russian Air Force at Mačuliščy air base was damaged and two explosions were heard. BYPOL claimed that Belarusian partisans were responsible for the disabling of the aircraft.[12]

Same year an organization known as Paspalitaje Rušeńnie (People's Self-Defence) has been created in exile by a Belarusian veteran Sieržuk Kiedyška with goal of, once the occasion arises, liberating the Belarusian territory through military means. It cooperates with the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, United Transitional Cabinet as well as "Litvins' Club". There are several People's Self-Defence departments in Polish and Lithuanian cities where Belarusian exiles' diasporas exist . Recruited volunteers undergo military training there and swear on oath of loyalty to free Belarus with the traditional national emblems present.