Changes

The Azov Battalion, a neo-Nazi paramilitary unit of the Ukrainian National Guard,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220214233722/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kiev-lets-loose-men-in-black-qm85k6jhlbj</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220306234450/https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ab7dw/azov-battalion-ukraine-far-right</ref> has received [[NATO]] training and weapons from [[the West]] and the United States.<ref>https://mronline.org/2021/11/13/military-knows-it-looks-bad-but-works-with-neo-nazis-anyway/</ref><ref>https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/10/nato-arming-training-nazis-ukraine-azov/</ref>  Its leader, Andriy Biletsky, said the [[Ukrainian]] nation’s mission was to “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade against [[Semite]]-led subhumans”.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/azov-ukraine-s-most-prominent-ultranationalist-group-sets-its-sights-on-u-s-europe/29600564.html</ref>  The group rose to prominence during the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup]] which overthrew the democratically elected President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] during the [[Obama administration]].  

The Azov Battalion, a neo-Nazi paramilitary unit of the Ukrainian National Guard,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220214233722/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kiev-lets-loose-men-in-black-qm85k6jhlbj</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220306234450/https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ab7dw/azov-battalion-ukraine-far-right</ref> has received [[NATO]] training and weapons from [[the West]] and the United States.<ref>https://mronline.org/2021/11/13/military-knows-it-looks-bad-but-works-with-neo-nazis-anyway/</ref><ref>https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/10/nato-arming-training-nazis-ukraine-azov/</ref>  Its leader, Andriy Biletsky, said the [[Ukrainian]] nation’s mission was to “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade against [[Semite]]-led subhumans”.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/azov-ukraine-s-most-prominent-ultranationalist-group-sets-its-sights-on-u-s-europe/29600564.html</ref>  The group rose to prominence during the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup]] which overthrew the democratically elected President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] during the [[Obama administration]].  

Reports published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have connected the Azov Battalion to [[war crime]]s such as mass looting, unlawful detention, and torture.<ref name="ohchr1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_13th_HRMMU_Report_3March2016.pdf |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2015 to 15 February 2016 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=February 2016 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306083551/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_13th_HRMMU_Report_3March2016.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ohchr2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_14th_HRMMU_Report.pdf |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2016 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=May 2016 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517163153/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_14th_HRMMU_Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> An OHCHR report from March 2016 stated that the organisation had "collected detailed information about the conduct of hostilities by Ukrainian armed forces and the Azov regiment in and around Shyrokyne (31km east of [[Mariupol]]), from the summer of 2014 to date. Mass looting of civilian homes was documented, as well as targeting of civilian areas between September 2014 and February 2015."<ref name="ohchr1" />  

Reports published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have connected the Azov Battalion to [[war crime]]s such as mass looting, unlawful detention, and torture.<ref name="ohchr1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_13th_HRMMU_Report_3March2016.pdf |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2015 to 15 February 2016 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=February 2016 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306083551/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_13th_HRMMU_Report_3March2016.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ohchr2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_14th_HRMMU_Report.pdf |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2016 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=May 2016 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517163153/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_14th_HRMMU_Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> An OHCHR report from March 2016 stated that the organization had "collected detailed information about the conduct of hostilities by Ukrainian armed forces and the Azov regiment in and around Shyrokyne (31km east of [[Mariupol]]), from the summer of 2014 to date. Mass looting of civilian homes was documented, as well as targeting of civilian areas between September 2014 and February 2015."<ref name="ohchr1" />  

Another OHCHR report documented an instance of rape and torture, writing: "A man with a mental disability was subject to cruel treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence by 8 to 10 members of the 'Azov' and 'Donbas' (another Ukrainian battalion) battalions in August–September 2014. The victim's health subsequently deteriorated and he was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital."<ref name="ohchr2" /> A report from January 2015 stated that a Donetsk Republic supporter was detained and tortured with electricity and [[waterboarding]], which resulted in his confessing to spying for pro-Russian militants.<ref name="ohchr2" />  In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern [[Donbas]] region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>   

Another OHCHR report documented an instance of rape and torture, writing: "A man with a mental disability was subject to cruel treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence by 8 to 10 members of the 'Azov' and 'Donbas' (another Ukrainian battalion) battalions in August–September 2014. The victim's health subsequently deteriorated and he was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital."<ref name="ohchr2" /> A report from January 2015 stated that a Donetsk Republic supporter was detained and tortured with electricity and [[waterboarding]], which resulted in his confessing to spying for pro-Russian militants.<ref name="ohchr2" />  In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern [[Donbas]] region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>