Who are the Ukrainian neo-Nazi "Battalion Azov" military group in Ukraine fighting Russia?

 

Who are the Ukrainian neo-Nazi "Battalion Azov" military group in Ukraine fighting Russia?

During the war in Ukraine in recent weeks, the name "Azov Battalion" is sometimes heard, except for the name of the Ukrainian army; The military is fighting in different uniforms and seems to have nothing to do with the Ukrainian army. However, it has often been heard that they were responsible for the downing of Russian fighters or the withdrawal of Russian forces in various areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says this influential group is spreading "Nazism" in Ukraine. This is one of the most important slogans of the Russian army against the Ukrainians, which has been repeatedly chanted by Putin: "Ukraine must be liberated from Nazi influence."

The allegations have always been denied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinski, who lost his grandfather in a Jewish massacre camp in Poland. The Ukrainian president has repeatedly said that as a Jew whose family members were taken from him by the German Nazis, he could not be a supporter of neo-Nazi groups.

Surprisingly, the Russian president, who has been a staunch supporter of far-right groups in Europe for the past decade, has today waged war across Ukraine under the pretext of "cleansing Ukraine of the Nazis."

There is ample evidence that the Azov Battalion is fighting Russian forces in various parts of Ukraine. At least photos published by news agencies of the three weeks of fighting in Ukraine show the presence of these forces in the three cities of Kiev, Mariupol and Kharkiv.

But why is Vladimir Putin citing the spread of neo-Nazism in Ukraine, citing the Azov Battalion?

Date of formation; Why and how was the Azov Azov Battalion formed?

What role does this battalion play alongside the Ukrainian army? Is this "neo-Nazi military group," as Vladimir Putin claims?

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, images of the group's parade of broken fighters and a logo similar to the group's SS have been circulated on social media. There are also various videos of some members of this battalion performing "Hello Nazi". However, analysts say that while behind all this Kremlin propaganda, there are facts about the group's true identity.

Azov volunteers with a symbol similar to the SS of this group

The Azov Battalion is a militant group whose members are volunteers. Azov is the name of a sea that is surrounded on three sides, to the south and east by the Crimean Peninsula and Rostov, and to the west and north by Ukraine.

The sea, which was mostly Ukrainian before the occupation of Crimea, is now completely under Russian control. The Azov militia group was formed on May 5, 2014, a battalion of white men with members from all over Europe.

Azov forces on the outskirts of Mariupol in 2015

The Azovs first came to prominence in 2015 when their battalion, with the help of the Ukrainian army, regained control of the city of Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists in the east. It was after this operation that the Ukrainian government merged them into its "National Guard".

In 2015, members of the Azov Land Regiment did not exceed 500, today it is estimated that between 3,500 and 5,000 fighters are present. Also, according to the latest news, hundreds of new members from all over Europe have joined the group in recent days.

Is the founder of the Azov Battalion a neo-Nazi?

The founder of the Azov Battalion is Andrei Biltsky, a native of Kharkiv and a Russian speaker. He initially managed to attract members of hooligan groups, football fanatics, as well as members of a Ukrainian patriotic extremist militia. Andrei Biletsky's beliefs undoubtedly originate from the same ideology of Nazi Germany. He considered forming a military regiment a decade before its founding, and in a 2007 article described the group's most important mission as "ethnic cleansing."

"We have to say that the core of Azov is made up of people with far-right and racist views," said Vyacheslav Likhachev, a Ukrainian historian. "Of course, we are trying to instill their doctrine in the new forces."

The Azov Battalion logo is inspired by the SS Das Reich, the symbol of Nazi Germany, although the group's founder and members reject it, saying the famous SS was inspired by Greek mythology. It does not belong to the Nazi and racist currents. However, one of the most important slogans of this group is "the idea of ​​forming a clean nation", which is very similar to the slogans and propaganda in Nazi Germany.

However, the evidence shows that not all members of this battalion are supporters of the far right. Mr Vyacheslav Likhachev says he knows two members of the militant group who not only do not have fascist ideas but are also "anarchists". The Ukrainian historian says many radical left-wing groups have been outraged by the Russian invasion in recent years, and some have joined the Azov Battalion.

Depoliticizing and avoiding racist rhetoric?

According to Adrien Nunjun, a French researcher at Inalco University, Azov militants have experienced a kind of "depoliticization" since joining the Ukrainian National Guard. In Ukraine, citizens from all over the world are praising the group's military actions against Russia. Few consider them nationalist heroes who are "saving Ukraine." Even Andrei Biletsky, who has long since left the post of Azov regiment commander, no longer makes racist remarks like he did in the past.

At the same time, research on the Bling Kat website shows that many racist groups, including two American neo-Nazi groups, the Atomwaffen Division and the Rise Above Movement (RAM), have worked in recent years, including 2020 and 2021, in collaboration with the Azov Battalion. "Racial Beliefs" in Ukraine. The website claims that Joachim Forholm, a Norwegian neo-Nazi leader, has in recent years been recruiting "young white Europeans with racist sentiments to be sent to Ukraine".

Are neo-Nazis popular in Ukraine?

Despite Russian propaganda about the popularity of neo-Nazis in Ukraine, in the last Ukrainian presidential election, Andrei Biltsky, the founder of the Azov Battalion, was forced to unite with all nationalist forces, but still failed to get more than 2% of the vote. To obtain.

According to Ukrainian historian Vyacheslav Likhachev, Ukrainians have a reciprocal attitude towards the Azov Regiment: "On the one hand, they are considered brave warriors who defend key cities despite the neo-Nazi beliefs of some of its members. But on the other hand, there is some suspicion about them, especially about the ties that the early leaders of this regiment had with former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. "They say the Azov Battalion joined the National Guard not because of their courage and tact, but because they have always tried to keep the puppets in the hands of the powerful.