The honour of service

Belarus has won the Muay Thai World Championship that was held in Thailand’s capital this year: our athletes, the guests, beat “the ancestors” of this sport on their own territory. Dmitry Shakuta, a many-time Thai boxing champion who serves in the interior troops of the interior Ministry, was among winners. He hones his military and kickboxing skills in the Federation of Muay Thai and Kickboxing headed by Valeriy Gaidukevich, Belarusian Interior Troops Commander
Belarus has won the Muay Thai World Championship that was held in Thailand’s capital this year: our athletes, the guests, beat “the ancestors” of this sport on their own territory. Dmitry Shakuta, a many-time Thai boxing champion who serves in the interior troops of the interior Ministry, was among winners. He hones his military and kickboxing skills in the Federation of Muay Thai and Kickboxing headed by Valeriy Gaidukevich, Belarusian Interior Troops Commander.

We have invited him for an interview and asked him about how and where the athletes and soldiers are trained.

— Valeriy Vladimirovich, there is “a shoulder-strap competition” underway in the Belarusian Armed Forces now. The army staff is getting reduced as a result of the army reforms, so many draftees are left out. Is it the same with the interior forces?

— We have special requirements, so the situation is different. But even if some of the recruits are not inspired by being drawn to the army service, they can be proud that they are among the chosen ones.

— The new drafting requirements are one of the ways to create a professional army in Belarus, aren’t they? There is a 50/50 professional ratio, which must mean that servicemen are half-professionals at least?

— I beg to differ. Officers are professionals as are ensigns and the military on contract.

By the way, a significant part of soldiers choose to remain to serve on contract. Psychologically, the contract military are more mature and experienced.

— What are the tasks to be fulfilled by the interior forces today?

— We have tasks to perform outlined in the law on interior forces. The law was necessitated by the recent changes that took place in the Belarusian society.

Along with interior departments, we protect the public order. Over 1,500 servicemen walk the streets of Belarusian cities and towns every day. We also maintain order at public events. For example, the previous football matches with Slovenia and Scotland organised in Minsk gathered crowds of football buffs — the stadium was crammed with viewers. We were well prepared and the result was good.

— Are recruits goods at fulfilling the tasks?

— We have an adequate training system in place. There is a young fighter course — basic military training that includes physical and combat exercises, shooting and tactics. It takes one month to define, which unit the recruit will be attached to.

— You are the chairman of the Federation of Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Does sport help young people adapt to stringent army conditions?

— Graduates of kickboxing and Thai boxing sections are especially successful. We have opted for this kind of sport, as it is vital for special forces to know how to effectively disarm the adversary, be able to evaluate the situation and make the opponent feel reluctant to take any further action.

— What prospects do the athletes have?

— I believe that soon Thai boxing will become an Olympic sport. And we will have sportsman to represent Belarus, as this year we are the winners. By the way, we have excellent training facilities and children of our officers and ensigns come here to indulge in sport.

— Do those men, who visit these sections, have a better chance of being employed in the interior forces?

— Surely, they come straight to the interior forces.

— Was it sport or army that entered your life first?

— Sport it was. I was brought up in the countryside. I was born in the village of Begoml and lived in the village of Shatsk, Pukhovichi District. We were our own coaches at first: we studied Kharlampiyev’s methods, which were published in a magazine back then. Later I enrolled in Ryazan higher military college of airborne forces. I served in assault forces and was a commander of a troop, then a squadron, a battalion, a regiment and division executive officer. In 1992 I moved to Belarus and commanded a special-appointment brigade in Maryina Gorka.

— Did you have any hesitations about choosing a career of a military?

— None whatsoever.

Irina Tulupova
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