HERE IS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN MYTHS ABOUT AZOV AND A DETAILED RATIONALE THAT DEBUNKS THEM.
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MYTH 9: AZOV IS A PARAMILITARY ENTITY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
In 2023, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko repeatedly personally awarded Azov fighters with state and departmental awards, as well as handguns awarded for service.* 11 representatives of Azov were honored with the highest state award — the title of the Hero of Ukraine. The Gold Star Order, which is awarded to those who received this title, is personally awarded by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov with the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery" on the 10th anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine, March 26, 2024. During his speech, the President singled out the Azov Brigade, whose soldiers defended Mariupol and Azovstal, among other military formations of the National Guard. He also commemorated the brigade's soldiers who are still in Russian captivity and assured that the state is making every effort to bring Ukrainian defenders home. The President handed the ribbon to the commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko.
In 2023, during his diplomatic visit to Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky solely held talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the return of Azov commanders from Turkey to Ukraine.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi regularly holds meetings with Azov commanders as part of the work process of Ukrainian General Staff.
Azov is a military unit within the National Guard of Ukraine, which obeys the orders of the General Staff of Ukraine. In the entire history of Azov's existence, there is not a single proven situation of disobedience or sabotage of orders of the Ukrainian General Staff by the Azov troops.
There was no evidence of violations by the Azov Brigade that could prevent the United States from providing military assistance to it. Many of the brigade's fighters were captured. They are still in Russian prisons, dying of torture and murder. The loudest proof of the enemy's arbitrariness is Russia's murder of Ukrainian defenders who were held in the filtration prison in Olenivka. We once again call for an end to the torture of Azov servicemen, for unhindered and regular access to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross and human rights lawyers, and for them to be included in prisoner exchanges
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On June 14, 2024, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called for an end to the torture of Azov servicemen and their inclusion in the POW exchange. Kyslytsya said:
Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi with Azov officers Ilia “Gandalf” Samoilenko, Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, and Mykyta “Raz-Dva” Nadtochiy. July, 2023
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with the commander of the Azov Brigade, Denys “Redis” Prokopenko upon his return to Ukraine from Turkey. July, 2023
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presents the Order of the Golden Star to Azov serviceman, Hero of Ukraine, officer Lev “Horus” Pashko. February, 2023
Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andrii Yermak presents the Order of the Golden Star to Deputy Commander of the Azov Brigade, Hero of Ukraine Sviatoslav “Kalyna” Palamar. Turkey, September, 2022
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko. March 26, 2024.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azov Brigade Lieutenant Bohdan "Voh" Tsymbal. October 1, 2024
The commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, and the commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko. March 26, 2024.
On October 1, 2024, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade Artillery Group, Lieutenant Bohdan "Voh" Tsymbal received the highest state award, the "Hero of Ukraine", from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Bohdan joined Azov at the age of 18. In 2022, he took part in the defence of Mariupol, where he sustained 4 serious bullet wounds and was evacuated by helicopter to the territory, controlled by Ukraine. During the defence of Mariupol, Bohdan's brother, who also served in the Azov, was killed. After returning to service, Bohdan carried out dozens of bold sabotage operations behind enemy lines, destroying dozens of enemy personnel, equipment and weapons.
Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi with Azov officers Ilia “Gandalf” Samoilenko, Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, and Mykyta “Raz-Dva” Nadtochiy. July, 2023
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with the commander of the Azov Brigade, Denys “Redis” Prokopenko upon his return to Ukraine from Turkey. July, 2023
Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andrii Yermak presents the Order of the Golden Star to Deputy Commander of the Azov Brigade, Hero of Ukraine Sviatoslav “Kalyna” Palamar. Turkey, September, 2022
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presents the Order of the Golden Star to Azov serviceman, Hero of Ukraine, officer Lev “Horus” Pashko. February, 2023
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko. March 26, 2024.
The commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, and the commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko. March 26, 2024.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azov Brigade Lieutenant Bohdan "Voh" Tsymbal. October 1, 2024
MYTH 9: AZOV IS A PARAMILITARY ENTITY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
Azov is a military unit within the National Guard of Ukraine, which obeys the orders of the General Staff of Ukraine. In the entire history of Azov's existence, there is not a single proven situation of disobedience or sabotage of orders of the Ukrainian General Staff by the Azov troops.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi regularly holds meetings with Azov commanders as part of the work process of Ukrainian General Staff.
In 2023, during his diplomatic visit to Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky solely held talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the return of Azov commanders from Turkey to Ukraine.
In 2023, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko repeatedly personally awarded Azov fighters with state and departmental awards, as well as handguns awarded for service*. 11 representatives of Azov were honored with the highest state award — the title of the Hero of Ukraine. The Gold Star Order, which is awarded to those who received this title, is personally awarded by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov with the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery" on the 10th anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine, March 26, 2024. During his speech, the President singled out the Azov Brigade, whose soldiers defended Mariupol and Azovstal, among other military formations of the National Guard. He also commemorated the brigade's soldiers who are still in Russian captivity and assured that the state is making every effort to bring Ukrainian defenders home. The President handed the ribbon to the commander of the Azov Brigade, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko.
On June 14, 2024, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called for an end to the torture of Azov servicemen and their inclusion in the POW exchange. Kyslytsya said:
We should not believe a single word of Putin's propaganda about the Azov Brigade. They are heroes, they are people who are fighting for their country, for their homes, and they are doing it successfully. The incredible things you have done. You are fighting for all of Ukraine, for the very idea of democracy, and therefore you are fighting for everyone in this country. [...] We fully rely on heroes like those here with us today from the Azov Brigade to achieve victory. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you are doing! Glory to Ukraine!
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On October 1, 2024, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade Artillery Group, Lieutenant Bohdan "Voh" Tsymbal received the highest state award, the "Hero of Ukraine", from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Bohdan joined Azov at the age of 18. In 2022, he took part in the defence of Mariupol, where he sustained 4 serious bullet wounds and was evacuated by helicopter to the territory, controlled by Ukraine. During the defence of Mariupol, Bohdan's brother, who also served in the Azov, was killed. After returning to service, Bohdan carried out dozens of bold sabotage operations behind enemy lines, destroying dozens of enemy personnel, equipment and weapons.