Global InformationAzov Brigade information
| Azov Assault Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Штурмова бригада «Азов» | |
 Azov patch | |
| Active | 5 May 2014 – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch | Special Tasks Patrol Police (2014) National Guard of Ukraine (2014 - present) |
| Type | Mechanized infantry |
| Role | Gendarmerie, national security. |
| Size | 900–2,500 members[1][2][3] |
| Colours | Blue and gold |
| Anniversaries | 5 May |
| Engagements |
|
| Website | azov |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Denys Prokopenko (17 July 2023 – present)[4] |
| Notable commanders | Andriy Biletsky (May–October 2014) Ihor Mosiychuk Vadym Troyan Maksim Zhorin[5] Denys Prokopenko (September 2017 – 29 May 2022)[6] (17 July 2023 - present)[4] Anatoliy Sidorenko (29 May – June 2022)[7] Mykyta Nadtochiy (June 2022 – 17 July 2023)[5] |
| Insignia | |
| Banner |  |
The Azov Assault Brigade (Ukrainian: Штурмова бригада «Азов», romanized: Shturmova bryhada "Azov") is a formation of the National Guard of Ukraine formerly based in Mariupol, in the coastal region of the Sea of Azov, from which it derives its name.[8] It was founded in May 2014 as the Azov Battalion[a] (Ukrainian: батальйон «Азов», romanized: Batalion "Azov"), a self-funded volunteer militia under the command of Andriy Biletsky, to fight Russian-backed forces in the Donbas War. 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]
The unit has drawn controversy over its early and allegedly continuing association with far-right groups and neo-Nazi ideology,[14] its use of controversial symbols linked to Nazism, and early allegations that members of the unit participated in human rights violations.[15][16][17] Some experts have been critical of the regiment's role within the larger Azov Movement, a political umbrella group made up of veterans and organizations linked to Azov, and its possible far-right political ambitions, despite claims of the regiment's depoliticization.[18][9] Others argue that the regiment has changed, tempering its far-right underpinnings as it became part of the National Guard.[19][20][10] The Azov Regiment has been a recurring theme of Russian propaganda.[21] The unit has been designated a terrorist group by Russia since August 2022.[22]
The regiment's size was estimated to be around 2,500 combatants in 2017,[3] and around 900 in 2022.[23] Most of the unit's members are Russian speakers from Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. It also includes members from other countries.[10] The regiment gained renewed attention during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin alleged that Ukraine was controlled by far-right forces, such as Azov, and gave "denazification" as a reason for the invasion. The Azov regiment played a prominent role in the Siege of Mariupol and made its final stand at the Azovstal steel plant.[24][25] The siege ended when a significant number of the regiment's fighters, including its commander, Denys Prokopenko, surrendered to Russian forces on orders from the Ukrainian high command.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Reuters17MayNumberOfMemberswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sprinter, Dinah (4 March 2022). "Jewish Ukrainians gear up for fierce Russia fight, alongside the 'neo-Nazis' they say Putin is lying about". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
spiegel.dewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Azov Brigade commander meets with personnel, announces his return to service". Ukrinform. 16 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Новым командиром "Азова" назначили эвакуированного из Мариуполя на вертолете Надточия". 18 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
denyswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "В Харькове заявили о создании нового спецподразделения "Азов"". 30 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
npu-2014was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
AUnian16916was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c "The Defenders of Mariupol". Tablet Magazine. 18 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hume-2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Azov regiment expands to brigade within National Guard of Ukraine". Yahoo! News. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Kuznetsova, Kateryna (8 February 2023). До штурмових бригад "Гвардія наступу" вже долучилося понад 500 дівчат — МВС. TSN (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sources neo-Naziwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
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Sheerin-2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Fireswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Ivan Gomza (April 2022). "Too Much Ado About Ukrainian Nationalists: the Azov Movement and the War in Ukraine". Krytyka. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Ritzmann, Alexander (12 April 2022). "The myth that far-right zealots run Ukraine is Russian propaganda". Euronews. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Sudarsan-2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
AP NEWS-2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
AlJazeera-2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
vhnytwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "'Defenders of Mariupol are the heroes of our time': the battle that gripped the world". The Guardian. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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