Azov Battalion

Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion Profile Quietly Removed From Stanford Extremist Group List

July 2, 2024 Noir, The Grayzone. Educate! Azov Battalion, Neo-Nazis, Russia, Stanford University, Ukraine

Stanford University’s Mapping Militants Project (MMP), a U.S. government-funded initiative that conducts research on “violent militant or extremist organizations,” quietly removed their profile on the Azov Battalion early last month. The Azov Battalion (now known as the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov”) is a Ukrainian National Guard unit infamous for its use of neo-Nazi insignia, recruitment of far-right foreign fighters, and alleged war crimes. The Stanford MMP’s mysterious removal of its Azov profile was followed about a month later by the U.S. State Department lifting its ban on military assistance to the unit, raising questions about the motives behind removal of the webpage.

US Lifts Ban On Weapons To Ukraine’s Nazi Azov Battalion

June 18, 2024 Alex Rubinstein, Scheer Post. Resistance Report Azov Battalion, Neo-Nazis, Russia, Ukraine, US Imperialism, Wars and Militarism

Well, it’s official. The United States has lifted its ban on the transfer of American weapons to neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraine. Today, Azov is led by Denis Prokopenko, a recipient of the ‘Hero of Ukraine’ award from interim Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky, a figure he once refused to salute. Prior to becoming its commander, Prokopenko was featured on the front cover of Azov’s magazine, called “Black Sun” – named after the Nazi sonnenrad symbol. Prokopenko is a longtime member of Azov, but before he joined the group, he was a member of the Ukrainian soccer ultra gang called the “White Boys Club.”

Meet Centuria, Ukraine’s Western-Trained Neo-Nazi Army

April 8, 2024 Kit Klarenberg, The Grayzone. Educate! Azov Battalion, Centuria, Germany, NATO, Neo-Nazis, Russia–Ukraine war, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, US Imperialism, Wars and Militarism, Yaroviv

Centuria, an ultra-violent Ukrainian Neo-Nazi faction, has cemented itself in six cities across Germany, and is seeking to expand its local presence. According to Junge Welt, a Berlin-based Marxist daily, the Nazi organization’s growth has been “unhindered by local security services.” Junge Welt traces Centuria’s origins to an August 2020 Neo-Nazi summit “at the edge of a forest near Kiev.” There, an ultranationalist named Igor “Tcherkas” Mikhailenko demanded the “hundreds of mostly masked vigilante fighters present,” who were members Kiev’s fascistic National Militia, “make sacrifices for the idea of ‘Greater Ukraine.’”

Italian Police Bust Azov-Tied Nazi Cell Planning Terror Attacks

November 17, 2022 Alexander Rubinstein, The Grayzone. Educate! Azov Battalion, Italy, Neo-Nazis, Terrorism, Ukraine

Italian police announced a series of raids against the neo-Nazi Order of Hagal organization. Accused of stockpiling weapons and planning terror attacks, the group has established operational ties to the Ukrainian Azov Battalion. Five members of an Italian neo-Nazi organization known as the “Order of Hagal” were arrested on November 15th while an additional member remains wanted by authorities. He happened to be in Ukraine, fighting Russian forces alongside the Azov Battalion, which has been formally integrated into the Ukrainian military. The “Hagal” members are accused of plotting terrorist attacks on civilian and police targets. A sixth member of the Hagal group, now considered a fugitive, is in Ukraine and embedded with the Azov Battalion, a neo-Nazi paramilitary group that has been incorporated into the Ukrainian National Guard.

‘Now, All Of You Are Azov’

October 6, 2022 Moss Robeson, The Grayzone. Educate! Azov Battalion, Congress, Neo-Nazis, Ukraine

This September, a delegation of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi-led Azov movement arrived in the United States, at a time when myth making about the far-right network’s “depoliticization” had reached a fever pitch. By this time, the New York Times had ceased referring to Azov as “openly neo-Nazi,” and was referring to the ultra-nationalist organization as “celebrated.” Since news broke of Azov’s US tour, more information has come to light about the ultra-nationalist organization’s outreach in the country, including efforts by Azov to reverse Congress’ ban on supplying it with arms and training. The Azov delegation included three veterans of the regiment formerly holed up in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. They were led by Giorgi Kuparashvili, the only fighter not taken prisoner by the Russians.

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