Changes

The '''Azov Battalion''', also referred to as the '''Azov Regiment''', '''Azov Brigade''', '''Azov Assault Brigade''', and the '''3rd Assault Brigade''', originated as a paramilitary wing of a [[Ukrainian]] political party, the [[Azov National Corps]] party, which holds seats in the undemocratic [[Ukrainian Parliament]]. It is now under the command of the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior,<ref>The Ministry of Interior holds the [[police]] power and is somewhat akin to the [[US Dept. of Justice]].</ref> not the Ministry of Defense, and it's political wing is part of the governing [[coalition]] that has banned all opposition.  

The '''Azov Battalion''', also referred to as the '''Azov Regiment''', '''Azov Brigade''', '''Azov Assault Brigade''', and the '''3rd Assault Brigade''', originated as a paramilitary wing of a [[Ukrainian]] political party, the [[Azov National Corps]] party, which holds seats in the undemocratic [[Ukrainian Parliament]]. It is now under the command of the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior,<ref>The Ministry of Interior holds the [[police]] power and is somewhat akin to the [[US Dept. of Justice]].</ref> not the Ministry of Defense, and it's political wing is part of the governing [[coalition]] that has banned all opposition.  

According to [[NBC News]] the Azov Battalion was “founded by an avowed [[white supremacist]] who claimed [[Ukraine]]’s national purpose was to rid the country of [[Jews]] and other inferior races.”<ref>https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ukraine-has-nazi-problem-vladimir-putin-s-denazification-claim-war-ncna1290946</ref>  The '''Azov Movement''' is neither just a “Nazi militia” or a “regular military unit”. It is a large & successful political movement with deep ties to the [[Kyiv regime]], to [[organized crime]], to domestic and foreign [[intelligence service]]s and to [[extremist]] organizations including [[ISIS]] all over the world.<ref>RWA @RWApodcast,''[[Twitter]]'', May 21, 2022. [https://twitter.com/RWApodcast/status/1528023286315204608]</ref><ref>[https://www.globalresearch.ca/leaked-documents-reveal-ukraine-zelensky-tried-hire-terrorists-iraq/5835278 Ukraine’s Zelensky Attempted to Hire Terrorists in Iraq: Leaked Documents], By Steven Sahiounie, ''Global Research'', October 08, 2023. ''"According to almasryalyoum.com, on September 27 [2023], a [[YouTube]] video appeared, which claims that Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has been trying to recruit certain Iraqi prisoners into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the video, the prisoners in question are convicted terrorists and ISIS fighters."''</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/evidence-war-crimes-committed-ukrainian-nationalist-volunteers-grows-269604 Ukrainian Nationalist Volunteers Committing 'ISIS-Style' War Crimes], By Damien Sharkov, ''[[Newsweek]]'', Published Sep 10, 2014 Updated Feb 28, 2016. newsweek.com</ref><ref>[https://therealnews.com/the-us-is-arming-and-assisting-neo-nazis-in-ukraine-while-congress-debates-prohibition THE US IS ARMING AND ASSISTING NEO-NAZIS IN UKRAINE, WHILE CONGRESS DEBATES PROHIBITION], BY TRNN, JANUARY 18, 2018. "Just as heavy weapons ostensibly intended for the CIA-backed Free Syrian Army went straight into the hands of [[Salafi]]-[[jihad]]i insurgent forces, including ISIS, American weapons in Ukraine are flowing directly to the extremists of Azov." therealnews.com </ref>

According to [[NBC News]] the Azov Battalion was “founded by an avowed [[white supremacist]] who claimed [[Ukraine]]’s national purpose was to rid the country of [[Jews]] and other inferior races.”<ref>https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ukraine-has-nazi-problem-vladimir-putin-s-denazification-claim-war-ncna1290946</ref>  The '''Azov Movement''' is neither just a “Nazi militia” or a “regular military unit”. It is a large & successful political movement with deep ties to the [[Kyiv regime]], to [[organized crime]], to domestic and foreign [[intelligence service]]s and to [[extremist]] organizations including [[ISIS]] all over the world.<ref>RWA @RWApodcast,''[[Twitter]]'', May 21, 2022. [https://twitter.com/RWApodcast/status/1528023286315204608]</ref><ref>[https://www.globalresearch.ca/leaked-documents-reveal-ukraine-zelensky-tried-hire-terrorists-iraq/5835278 Ukraine’s Zelensky Attempted to Hire Terrorists in Iraq: Leaked Documents], By Steven Sahiounie, ''Global Research'', October 08, 2023. ''"According to almasryalyoum.com, on September 27 [2023], a [[YouTube]] video appeared, which claims that Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has been trying to recruit certain Iraqi prisoners into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the video, the prisoners in question are convicted terrorists and ISIS fighters."''</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/evidence-war-crimes-committed-ukrainian-nationalist-volunteers-grows-269604 Ukrainian Nationalist Volunteers Committing 'ISIS-Style' War Crimes], By Damien Sharkov, ''[[Newsweek]]'', Published Sep 10, 2014 Updated Feb 28, 2016. newsweek.com</ref><ref>[https://therealnews.com/the-us-is-arming-and-assisting-neo-nazis-in-ukraine-while-congress-debates-prohibition THE US IS ARMING AND ASSISTING NEO-NAZIS IN UKRAINE, WHILE CONGRESS DEBATES PROHIBITION], BY TRNN, JANUARY 18, 2018. "Just as heavy weapons ostensibly intended for the CIA-backed [[Free Syrian Army]] went straight into the hands of [[Salafi]]-[[jihad]]i insurgent forces, including ISIS, American weapons in Ukraine are flowing directly to the extremists of Azov." therealnews.com </ref>

''[[The Guardian]]''  reported in 2015, "while the Azov and other volunteer battalions might be Ukraine's most potent and reliable force on the battlefield against the [Donbas] separatists, they also pose the most serious threat to the Ukrainian government, and perhaps even the state."<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/10/azov-far-right-fighters-ukraine-neo-nazis</ref>  Its founder, [[Andriy Biletsky]] famously described the Azov Battalion's role in the [[Revolution of Dignity]], "we have fun killing."<ref>https://youtu.be/0C1O2WWqyPQ?t=1035</ref>  According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,

''[[The Guardian]]''  reported in 2015, "while the Azov and other volunteer battalions might be Ukraine's most potent and reliable force on the battlefield against the [Donbas] separatists, they also pose the most serious threat to the Ukrainian government, and perhaps even the state."<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/10/azov-far-right-fighters-ukraine-neo-nazis</ref>  Its founder, [[Andriy Biletsky]] famously described the Azov Battalion's role in the [[Revolution of Dignity]], "we have fun killing."<ref>https://youtu.be/0C1O2WWqyPQ?t=1035</ref>  According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,