RTTue, 11 Jun 2024 09:51 UTC
© STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Moscow has condemned Washington's decision to allow arms supplies to Ukraine's notorious Azov Brigade
Washington will stop at nothing, including the use of neo-Nazis, to damage Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, following a US decision to lift a ban on supplying weapons to Ukraine's Azov Brigade.The unit has notoriously welcomed into its ranks people who espouse ultranationalist and neo-Nazi ideologies, and has been described by the Western press as a magnet for such individuals from across the world.
On Monday,
the US Department of State cleared the brigade to receive American military assistance, stating that it found no evidence of human rights violations by the group."This sudden change of stance by Washington proves that [US officials] would stoop to anything in their attempts to suppress Russia, using the Ukrainian people as a tool. They are even fine with flirting with neo-Nazis," Peskov told journalists during a media briefing.
Azov was founded as a volunteer battalion of Ukrainian nationalists in 2014 by white supremacist Andrey Biletsky. People who came to power in Kiev following the Western-backed armed coup that year used Azov fighters in an attempt to violently quash a rebellion against the new government in the east. The battalion was incorporated into Ukraine's National Guard the following year.
In 2018, the US Congress banned the delivery of arms to the Azov Brigade, citing its ties to neo-Nazi ideology.Since the outbreak of conflict with Russia, Ukrainian officials and Azov members worked to rebrand the unit. Its insignia, which originally paid homage to Nazi symbology, was replaced with less offensive imagery, and its messaging changed to claim that the unit had distanced itself from its roots.
Some former and serving US officials, such as ex-ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, helped Azov's efforts by organizing events for them on American soil.
However, Moscow insists that the nature of the unit has not significantly changed. It remains an "ultranationalist armed group," Peskov stated.
Comment:
1) The US has been a stable voter against the Russian FN resolution against Nazism:
Over 50 countries vote against UN anti-Nazism resolution
A UN resolution opposing the celebration of Nazism and related ideologies has met with significant resistance from the US and its allies, with 52 countries voting against it on Friday.
The draft resolution "Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," introduced by Russia's representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, was adopted with 105 votes in support. In addition to the 52 votes against, 15 countries abstained.
2) From the article: "
the US Department of State cleared the brigade to receive American military assistance"
Given the amount of aid sent to Ukraine and the level of flexibility of where the aid ends up, whether financial or military, once inside Ukraine, it is unlikely that it will make much difference on the ground, though it is possible it will facilitate the embedding of western "instructors" within the brigade.
3) The military group Azov began as a volunteer battalion in 2014. About the later development the
Wiki has:
It was formally incorporated into the National Guard on 11 November 2014,[10][11] and redesignated Special Operations Detachment "Azov",[b] also known as the Azov Regiment.[c] In February 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Azov was to be expanded as a brigade of the new Offensive Guard.[12][13]
4) From the article:
Ukrainian officials and Azov members worked to rebrand the unit. Its insignia, which originally paid homage to Nazi symbology, was replaced with less offensive imagery, and its messaging changed to claim that the unit had distanced itself from its roots.
Regarding the symbology, the Wiki has the history of the symbol shown in the current image, the SS sign, below the old symbol, the description is:
A former Azov emblem[243][244][245] featuring a combination of a mirrored Wolfsangel and the Black Sun, two symbols associated with the Wehrmacht and SS, over a small Tryzub. Since 2015, it is no longer in use as a symbol of the regiment.[246][245]
5) See also:
Russia reacts to UK MPs applauding Ukrainian neo-Nazis
Comment:
1) The US has been a stable voter against the Russian FN resolution against Nazism:
Over 50 countries vote against UN anti-Nazism resolution 2) From the article: "the US Department of State cleared the brigade to receive American military assistance"
Given the amount of aid sent to Ukraine and the level of flexibility of where the aid ends up, whether financial or military, once inside Ukraine, it is unlikely that it will make much difference on the ground, though it is possible it will facilitate the embedding of western "instructors" within the brigade.
3) The military group Azov began as a volunteer battalion in 2014. About the later development the Wiki has: 4) From the article: Regarding the symbology, the Wiki has the history of the symbol shown in the current image, the SS sign, below the old symbol, the description is: 5) See also: Russia reacts to UK MPs applauding Ukrainian neo-Nazis