The '''Azov Battalion''' began as a volunteer formation in May 2014 shortly after the [[Maidan coup]], and in late 2014 was brought within the [[Ukrainian]] National Guard by the Maidan regime, and in 2015 became a regiment. From the outset it aroused considerable attention, including abroad, due to the pronounced [[neo-Nazi]] views of its leaders and members. 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 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> On February 24, 2022 [[President Vladimir Putin]] of Russia announced [[Operation Denazification]] to clean out the fascist battalions which have waged war on the civilians of the [[Donbas]] republics since 2014.<ref>http://www.indiandefencereview.com/what-forced-a-russian-response-in-ukraine/</ref> | The '''Azov Battalion''' began as a volunteer formation in May 2014 shortly after the [[Maidan coup]], and in late 2014 was brought within the [[Ukrainian]] National Guard by the Maidan regime, and in 2015 became a regiment. From the outset it aroused considerable attention, including abroad, due to the pronounced [[neo-Nazi]] views of its leaders and members. 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 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> On February 24, 2022 [[President Vladimir Putin]] of Russia announced [[Operation Denazification]] to clean out the fascist battalions which have waged war on the civilians of the [[Donbas]] republics since 2014.<ref>http://www.indiandefencereview.com/what-forced-a-russian-response-in-ukraine/</ref> |