US lifts ban on sending weapons to a controversial Ukrainian military unit
Source: US News and World Report/AP
June 11, 2024, at 4:42 a.m.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The U.S. has lifted a ban on providing American weapons and training to a controversial Ukrainian military unit that was key to the defense of the major port city of Mariupol, the State Department said on Tuesday.
The Azov Brigade is among Ukraines most effective and popular fighting units but has been dogged by its origins as a volunteer battalion that drew fighters from far-right circles and criticism for some of its tactics. The U.S. had banned the regiment from using American weapons, citing the neo-Nazi ideology of some of its founders.
The current members of the Azov Brigade, which has been absorbed into Ukraines National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, reject accusations of extremism and any ties with far-right movements. But the Kremlin has seized on the regiments origins in its efforts to cast Russias invasion as a battle against Nazi influence in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow took an extremely negative view of Washingtons decision. He described Azov as an ultranationalist armed formation and accused U.S. authorities of being ready to flirt with neo-Nazis. U.S. law prohibits providing equipment and training to foreign military units or individuals suspected of committing gross human rights violations. The State Department said in a statement that it found no evidence" of such violations.
Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-06-11/us-lifts-weapons-ban-on-a-high-profile-ukrainian-military-unit-with-a-checkered-past
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Nictuku
(3,665 posts)The men of the Azov Brigade are considered National Heroes in Ukraine. Nothing about them that I have seen has any kind of Nazi-ism (unlike some of the Russian behavior during this terroristic invasion of their neighbor).
Bayard
(22,593 posts)![](/emoticons/rofl.gif)
Suck it.
republianmushroom
(14,663 posts)of this. And other russian loving republicans,
Warpy
(111,805 posts)What got them to organize and seek training was Russia's invasion and annexation of Crimea and Donetsk City in 2014.
I imagine the ultra nationalism they espouse is along the lines of "kick the Russians all the way back to Russia." And if you want them to fight more along western lines, give them the training and weapons to do it.