On Monday, the U.S. State Department confirmed that it has lifted restrictions on providing weapons and training to the Azov Brigade, a prominent unit within the Ukrainian military. This move comes as the Azov Brigade continues to play a crucial role in Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against the ongoing Russian invasion that began in February 2022. As a result, U.S. military personnel can now train the Azov Brigade, and the unit can use weapons provided by the United States.
The Leahy Law, which prohibits the United States from providing weapons or financial aid “to foreign security force units where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross human rights violations,” had banned the Azov forces for a decade. However, the State Department has recently lifted this prohibition.
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According to the State Department, they have determined that the 12th Azov Brigade did not engage in any gross violations of human rights.
In 2014, the Azov Brigade emerged as a volunteer force during the Russian invasion of Ukraine’s eastern border. As the conflict intensified, the brigade gained prominence and was eventually integrated into Ukraine’s National Guard in 2015. With the recent announcement, the Azov Brigade will now receive equivalent U.S. military assistance to other units within the National Guard.
As per The Washington Post, the Leahy Law prevented the United States from providing aid to the Azov unit nearly ten years ago due to worries about its leader Andriy Biletsky and other members having connections to Nazism. The group was once called the Azov Battalion, and some of its members were labeled as far-right and xenophobic. This narrative has been frequently propagated by Russian propaganda efforts to excuse their aggression towards Ukraine.
According to a spokesperson from the State Department, the ban on a particular unit has been lifted, although there was no mention of the exact date when it happened. The spokesperson further clarified that the original unit has been disbanded for years now. Additionally, the current brigade underwent rigorous vetting, which did not reveal any signs of gross human rights violations. As a result, the restrictions were lifted, allowing the unit to operate once again.
In a social media post, the Azov Brigade expressed their excitement for a new chapter in their history, stating that the acquisition of Western weapons and training from the United States will not only enhance their combat capabilities but also ensure the safety and well-being of their personnel.
During a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States of being willing to align with neo-Nazis in order to suppress Russia. Peskov’s statement followed the official designation of the Azov unit as a terrorist group by Russia’s top court in 2022. The sudden change in the US position regarding the Azov unit was seen by Peskov as evidence of the country’s willingness to go to great lengths to undermine Russia.
During the defense of Mariupol, the Azov forces played an instrumental role. Despite being holed-up in a vast steel mill with limited ammunition and enduring intense Russian artillery fire, the forces refused to surrender for 80 days. Eventually, they had to lay down their weapons.
The Azov troops have become a powerful representation of Ukrainian resistance in the ongoing war against Russia. Unfortunately, a significant number of them are still being held captive by the Russians.
