The United States has lifted its ban on providing weapons and training to the Azov Brigade, a contentious Ukrainian military unit that played a crucial role in the defense of Mariupol in 2022. The US State Department, in a statement on Tuesday, indicated that a “thorough review” of the current Azov Brigade revealed “no evidence” of human rights violations.
Washington emphasized that the present unit differs significantly from the volunteer militia founded in 2014, which included fighters from far-right circles and faced criticism for some of its tactics. The US had previously prohibited the regiment from using its weapons, citing the neo-Nazi ideology of some of its founders.
“This is a new page in the history of our brigade,” Azov said of the US decision in a social media statement. “Obtaining Western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat ability of Azov but most importantly, contribute to the preservation of the lives and health of personnel.”
Integrated into Ukraine’s National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, the Azov Brigade is now one of the country’s most effective and popular fighting units. Its current members deny any extremist affiliations and reject ties to far-right movements. The US noted that the original militia was “disbanded in 2015” and acknowledged Azov’s “heroic role” in the 2022 battle for Mariupol.
The lifting of the ban is expected to enhance the brigade’s combat capabilities during a challenging period in the war against Russia, as Ukraine faces persistent shortages of ammunition and personnel. Azov soldiers were pivotal in the defense of Mariupol, holding out for weeks in the city’s steelworks despite being low on ammunition and under continuous attack from Russian forces.
The city eventually fell to Russia in May 2022, but Azov’s defenders have been celebrated as heroes, symbolizing Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression. Weekly rallies call for the release of hundreds of Azov POWs still held by Russia.
Moscow has consistently depicted Azov as a Nazi group, accusing it of atrocities but providing scant evidence. It designated the unit a terrorist organization in 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the US decision, suggesting it shows Washington’s willingness to “suppress Russia… even flirting with neo-Nazis.”
The Azov Brigade originated from the Azov Battalion, one of many volunteer regiments formed to combat Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Human Rights Watch had previously raised concerns about Azov, citing credible allegations of abuses by its fighters. Since its first commander left in October 2014, Azov has reportedly been “cleansing itself” of undesirable elements and has sought to rebrand as an effective, skilled fighting force, distancing itself from controversial figures.
