United States lifts ban on delivering arms to Ukraine's Azov regiment.
The "Leahy Law" bans any military aid or training from being given to international groups accused of human rights abuses, according to the US State Department.
The 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade, a battalion integrated into the Ukrainian National Guard in 2023, acknowledged that they can now receive security assistance from the United States. They expressed excitement in a statement released on Tuesday, considering it "a new chapter in the history of our unit."
This news would help strengthen the combat capability of the brigade by improving the health and safety of their personnel, according to the unit.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, criticized this move by the United States, arguing that they are willing to "even flirt with neo-Nazis," as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Formation and Major Battles
What began as a militia to shield Ukraine from Russia's invasion in 2014, the unit was initially referred to as the "Azov Battalion," operating primarily in the Mariupol region. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense encouraged voluntary battalions to aide the army and resistance at the time.
The Azov battalion evolved and merged into the Azov Special Police Regiment under the Ministry of Internal Affairs before joining the National Guard, as stated on their website.
In 2015, Azov forces were responsible for liberating Mariupol and its environs from the occupation, driving back Russian troops from the city. They took part in significant conflicts in the Donetsk region.
The unit claims to disavow any links to "fascism, nazism, and racism," as a response to allegations of White supremacist and neo-Nazi alliances.
The State Department recognized the effectiveness of Azov Brigade following a rigorous Leahy review, confirming that no human rights abuses committed by the battalion were identified.
Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, expressed disapproval with this decision, labeling the brigade a "openly nationalist group" and expressing worry over "US approaches in the battle against terrorism."
The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Azov battalion, labeled "militants," of bombing a Mariupol theater that sheltered people in 2022. This building had signs reading "children" written in Russian on both sides.
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The United States' decision to lift the ban on delivering arms to Ukraine's Azov regiment has sparked controversy in the international community, with some viewing it as a significant move in the ongoing European conflict. This development has the potential to impact the global balance of power, as many countries around the world closely watch the situation in Europe.
