Category: Azov Battalion

IN DEPTH: If US Keeps Arming Ukraine, War Can Spiral out of Control: International Security Expert

Continuous arming of Ukraine could lead to an escalation of the war with Russia that could eventually spiral out of control, expanding outside Ukraine, said an international security expert. “I do not believe that continuously [and] indefinitely arming the Ukrainians is going to force [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to simply leave all of the post-1991…


Russia-Turkey Ties Come Under Strain After Return of Ukraine’s Azov Commanders

The Kremlin is seeking an explanation from Turkey regarding the latter’s recent decision to allow five Ukrainian Azov Battalion commanders to return to Kyiv in an apparent breach of an earlier prisoner-swap agreement. “The return of the Azov leaders violates an existing agreement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 10. “We will discuss…


My Enemy’s Enemy Are My Friends—Even If Some of Them May Be Neo-Nazis

Commentary As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the UK is stepping up its support for the embattled nation by training new recruits for its depleted army on British soil. When I recently contacted the Ministry of Defense (MOD) for details I was informed, “The UK-led training programme has capacity to train up to 10,000…


DHS Warns of Ukrainian Neo-Nazi Battalions Recruiting Americans

Video footage released May 27 purportedly shows U.S. volunteer soldiers shooting a rocket at a Russian armored vehicle in Ukraine—footage that comes on the heels of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bulletin warning about how American volunteer participation in the conflict abroad could increase extremism at home. The DHS bulletin—obtained by transparency group Property of the…


Pentagon, Partners Working to Verify Azov Regiment Reports That Russia Used ‘Poisonous Substance’ in Mariupol

The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have said they are working to verify unconfirmed reports on social media that Russian forces used a “poisonous substance” in the long-contested southern city of Mariupol. The Azov Regiment, an ultra-nationalist unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, said on Telegram that Russia used a “poisonous substance of an…


Americans Shouldn’t Join War in Ukraine, Blinken Says

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 2 that Americans should refrain from traveling to Ukraine to help in that country’s conflict with Russia. Blinken’s warning came the same day Ukraine temporarily lifted visa requirements for foreign volunteers to enter the country. On Feb. 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the formation of the “International Legion…


The Risks of Arming Ukraine’s Azov Battalion

In the West’s zeal to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invaders, some observers worry that Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitaries will benefit from U.S. support—a situation that would heighten security risks at home. On her Feb. 28 appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show, Hillary Clinton joined the growing number of those calling for the…