LIST OF MYTHS
MYTH 1:
Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views
MYTH 2:
Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views
MYTH 3:
Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions
MYTH 4:
The Azov symbol has neo-Nazi implications
MYTH 5:
Azov Nazi Accusations
MYTH 6:
Azov tattoos feature runes because the unit's fighters are Nazis
MYTH 7:
Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world
MYTH 8:
Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war
MYTH 9:
Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of Ukraine
5/9
HERE IS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN MYTHS ABOUT AZOV AND A DETAILED RATIONALE THAT DEBUNKS THEM.
Reconnaissance personnel of the Azov Brigade are training in open waters. 2023
Tactical training of the Azov Brigade. 2023
Commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys “Redis” Prokopenko during the brigade tactical training after his return from Turkey. 2023
Infantrymen of the brigade practice landing from the MaxxPro armored vehicle. 2023
Reconnaissance personnel of the Azov Brigade. 2023

MYTH 5: Azov Nazi Accusations

Reconnaissance personnel of the Azov Brigade are training in open waters. 2023
Tactical training of the Azov Brigade. 2023
Azov started its operation as a volunteer unit. In 2014, amid the chaos and surprise of an attack from the Russian Federation, the selection criteria was not regulated and strict. Azov recruited anyone who was ready to defend the country with a weapon in their arms. In this regard, some people with radical political views and outlooks joined Azov laying the foundation for myths about "Azov Nazis". As soon as Azov got on the rails of development and discipline, such people were dismissed from the unit, as any form of discrimination or hate speech, including expressing Nazi views or spreading any other chauvinist ideology, is unacceptable for Azov. It is important to note that those people with unacceptable positions for the unit did not commit any crimes against any individual anyway.
Commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys “Redis” Prokopenko during the brigade tactical training after his return from Turkey. 2023
Commenting on the Azov Brigade Nazi accusations, Viacheslav Likhachev, a well-known political scientist of Jewish origin and researcher of the ideology and activities of modern far-right movements in Russia and Ukraine, notes:
There were some individuals with neo-Nazi background and Far Right views among the people who founded The Azov Battalion in the very beginning in 2014, though even not all the founders had such a background. For example, among the first members of Azov there were activists from the AutoMaidan volunteer groups and many Jews (including at least one Israeli citizen). Most of the soldiers with far-right background left the regiment by the end of 2014. The rest of the far-right radicals who clearly articulated their views were discharged in 2017 by the order from the new commanders of the Regiment. As of today, there are absolutely no grounds for accusations that neo-Nazis serve in the Azov Regiment.
Now, same as for the past 9 years, it is forbidden in Azov to use any Nazi and fascist symbols on badges, tattoos, clothing, flags, etc.
Azov is a military unit that has no ideological attachment to any political movement. Contrary to Azov neo-Nazi accusations, no official statements of the Azov brigade have declared any commitment to Nazism and neo-Nazi ideas.
Infantrymen of the brigade practice landing from the MaxxPro armored vehicle. 2023
Reconnaissance personnel of the Azov Brigade. 2023
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