LVIV, Ukraine

Foreign fighters from Belarus departed on Wednesday on their way to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the city of Lviv further west to fight in the ongoing war against Russia.

"We'll fight for the independence of Ukraine. Because, we know very well that if Ukraine isn't independent, Belarus won't be independent in the future," said Pavel Kulazhanka, who is heading the group.

Kulazhanka emphasized that, unlike Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, they would stand with the Ukrainians.

Donning their fatigues and weapons, the 20 fighters who came to the train station in Lviv said they were ready to fulfill the tasks the Ukrainian army would give them.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 691 civilians have been killed and 1,143 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

More than 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar