Azov Special Purpose Regiment: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name =Azov Special Purpose Detachment

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| image = [[File: Emblem of the National Guard of Ukraine, 2017.svg|250px]] <br /> [[File: National Police of Ukraine emblem.svg|250px]]

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| dates = <!-- or | start_date = May 2014 | end_date = -->

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| country = Ukraine <!-- or | countries = -->

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| type = National Guard

(November 2014 - present)<br /> Special Police (May - November 2014)

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| size =800 fighters (October 2014) <br/>

> 1000 fighters (after reformatting into a regiment) [2]

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| battles =War in eastern Ukraine<br/>

[[Battle of Mariupol (2014)]]<br/>

[[Battle of Marinka]]<br/>

[[Battle of Ilovaisk]]<br/>

[[Shyrokyne standoff (February–July 2015)]]<br/>

Russian invasion of Ukraine<br/>

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|website=azov.org.ua

<!-- Commanders -->

| current_commander =Major Denis Prokopenko

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| notable_commanders =[[Andriy Biletsky]]

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Azov Special Purpose Separate Detachment, also known as the Azov Regiment (OZSP "Azov", unit 3057), is a unit of the [[National Guard of Ukraine]] and part of the [[Operational Command East]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ngu.gov.ua/ua/news/rozyasnennya-shchodo-statusu-specpidrozdilu-azov |title=Роз'яснення щодо статусу спецпідрозділу «Азов» (Clarification on the status of the Axov special unit) // NSU website, 23 April 2015 |access-date=21 March 2022|archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709162323/http://ngu.gov.ua/ua/news/rozyasnennya-shchodo-statusu-specpidrozdilu-azov }}</ref> The unit was established in 2014 as the Azov Volunteer Battalion and until November 11, 2014, was a unit of the special police patrol service of the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine]]. The detachment is based in [[Mariupol]], [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]] region, and temporarily based in [[Berdiansk|Berdyansk]], [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast|Zaporizhia region]].

The unit takes part in the hostilities in eastern Ukraine, mainly within the Azov region, as part of the_Ukrainian [[Special Operations Forces (Ukraine)|special forces]]. Azov liberated Mariupol in June 2014, took part in the battles near [[Ilovaisk]], defended Mariupol from end of August 2014, and launched an offensive on [[Shyrokyne|Shirokino]] in February 2015.

The emblem of the regiment is a modified symbol of the "Idea of the Nation".

==History==

===Creation===

The Azov Battalion was established on May 5, 2014<ref name="Командир полку «Азов» Андрій Білецький">[http://www.unian.ua/politics/994779-komandir-polku-azov-andriy-biletskiy-ti-hto-prolivae-krov-za-ukrajinu-povinni-mati-sviy-golos-u-vladi.html Командир полку «Азов» Андрій Білецький: Ті, хто проливає кров за Україну, повинні мати свій голос у владі] (Commander of the Azov Regiment Andriy Biletsky: Those who shed blood for Ukraine must have a voice in power) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027060403/http://www.unian.ua/politics/994779-komandir-polku-azov-andriy-biletskiy-ti-hto-prolivae-krov-za-ukrajinu-povinni-mati-sviy-golos-u-vladi.html |date=27 October 2014 }}, Unian, 11 October 2014</ref> in Berdyansk, along with other battalions of the Special Police Patrol Service (BPSMOP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on the decision of the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine]] to form special police units with people with military experience or who had completed an accelerated, two-week training course at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

When it was founded, it was based on members of two public organizations: [[Automaidan]] and [[Patriot of Ukraine]]. On May 20, 2014, the recruitment of fighters to the battalion was announced.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/batalyon-azov-ogolosiv-nabor-novih-voyak.html |title=ТСН: Батальйон "Азов" оголосив набір нових вояк |trans-title=AZOV BATTALION ANNOUNCES RECRUITMENT OF NEW SOLDIERS |access-date=May 23, 2014 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |language=Ukrainian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205083733/http://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/batalyon-azov-ogolosiv-nabor-novih-voyak.html }}</ref>

According to former Deputy Battalion Commander [[Ihor Mosiychuk]], at the beginning of June 2014 the special battalion consisted of 20 foreigners: from Russia, several Scandinavian countries, and one Italian citizen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ukr-online.com/society/6455-chorn-cholovchki-popovnyat-lavi-specbatalyonu-azov-foto.html |title="Чорні чоловічки" поповнять лави спецбатальйону "Азов" |trans-title=Black Men "will replenish the ranks of the special battalion" Azov "|access-date=27 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903134240/http://ukr-online.com/society/6455-chorn-cholovchki-popovnyat-lavi-specbatalyonu-azov-foto.html |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File: Andriy Biletsky with «Azov» volunteers.jpg|thumb|Andriy Biletsky with Azov volunteers]]

====Further solemn oaths====

On June 23, 2014, the third company of the Azov Special Battalion swore allegiance to Ukraine on [[Sophia Square]] in [[Kyiv]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://radio24.ua/news/showSingleNews.do?objectId=18927 |title=«Азов» поповнився бійцями// «Радіо24», 23 червня 2014 |access-date=24 June 2014 |archive-date=12 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712143102/http://radio24.ua/news/showSingleNews.do?objectId=18927 }}</ref>

On August 17, 2014, in the square near the National Museum of History of Ukraine in Kyiv, recruits of the Azov Battalion from Donetsk, [[Lviv]], Kyiv and other regions took an oath of allegiance to the people of Ukraine and went to the ATO zone to support their compatriots.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/08/17/7035041/ |title=З Києва до зони АТО стартували новобранці «Азова»// «Українська правда», 17 серпня 2014 |access-date=18 August 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820065420/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/08/17/7035041/ }}</ref>

====Beginning of the battle path====

After its creation, the Azov Battalion conducted training in the [[Zaporizhzhia|Zaporizhia]] region near Berdyansk, and also patrolled the area around Mariupol.<ref name="ICTV">{{Cite web |url=http://fakty.ictv.ua/ua/index/read-news/id/1515916 |title=Факти ICTV: Зрада працівників МВС у Маріуполі: за планом бійці батальйону «Азов» повинні були загинути (відео) |accessdate=23 May 2014 |archive-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524023239/http://fakty.ictv.ua/ua/index/read-news/id/1515916 }}</ref> According to former battalion deputy commander Yaroslav Honchar, the unit began operations in April, when it was involved in various types of reconnaissance operations. However, the battalion began direct participation in hostilities in early May 2014, waging several small battles with sabotage groups on the outskirts of Mariupol.<ref name="Добровольці">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/dobrovoltsi_nadegda_ukraini_i_armii_misli_pro_azov_1635465 |title=Добровольцы. Надежда Украины и армии. Мысли про «Азов» // «Ukrinform», 21 травня 2014 |accessdate=29 May 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529000045/http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/dobrovoltsi_nadegda_ukraini_i_armii_misli_pro_azov_1635465 |archivedate=29 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On May 7, hostile fighters fired automatic weapons at a battalion bus near the village of [[Manhush, Donetsk Oblast|Mangush]]. The driver was injured. One of the attackers was killed and two others were taken prisoner, including the "Minister of Defense" of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" [[Igor Khakimzyanov]].<ref name="Мангуш">{{Cite web |url=http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/uk/publish/article/1044923 |title=Сепаратисти обстріляли автобус з бійцями батальйону міліції спецпризначення «Азов» |accessdate=29 May 2014 |archive-date=8 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061606/http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/uk/publish/article/1044923 }}</ref>.

===Fighting in Mariupol===

On May 9, Azov Battalion fighters arrived at the request of the Mariupol Police Chief to take part liberation the seized police department building.

According to the commander of the [[Donbas Battalion]] [[Semen Semenchenko]], the Azov Battalion on May 22, 2014, was the most capable unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine [13]

On May 23, the Azov Battalion suggested that the Donetsk People's Republic militants stationed near the cities of Shakhtarsk, Torez, and Snizhne remove illegal checkpoints, lay down their arms, and return to their families. Otherwise, the battalion would be forced to clear all illegally installed checkpoints in the area of these cities [14] On the same day, the Azov Battalion cleared the executive committee of the Torez City Council of the Donetsk Region of militants. As a result of the firefight, two representatives of the DNR were killed, and no one was killed or injured by the Azov Battalion.

On May 26, 2014, the Azov Battalion, together with fighters from the Ukraine Battalion, stormed a transshipment base of Donetsk fighters and Russian militants set up at Oleksandr Yanukovych 's dacha in the village of Urzuf. During the assault, some hostile fighters were killed, some were detained, and a large arsenal of small arms and cash was found during a search of the premises.

On May 26, Azov Battalion fighters together with the Ukraine Battalion killed about five fighters, including a sniper, during a reconnaissance operation, and detained three combattants. Also as a result of the operation, part of the terrorists' ammunition was destroyed [17]

On June 12, one of the leaders of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, Oleksandr Fomenko, was detained by battalion soldiers in Mariupol.

plan-scheme of the operation to

liberate Mariupol on June 13, 2014,

On June 13, soldiers of the Azov Battalion, with the support of the National Guard, the Dnipro-1 Battalion, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, liberated Mariupol from militants of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic. During the operation, four fighters were wounded on the Ukrainian side (one was seriously wounded), Donetsk lost three killed, 17 wounded and 38 militants taken prisoner [19] .

On June 30, 2014, Azov Battalion fighters detained Igor Guskov, a pro-Russian Berdyansk Cossack centurion and a close associate of one of the leaders in the Donbas movement, [[Igor Girkin]], Strelka .

After the beginning of July, the unit's fighters conducted operations to block the supply of weapons to hostile fighters in the Donetsk region. In particular, according to battalion commander Andriy Biletsky, as of July 6, the coast of the Sea of Azov in Donetsk region was fully controlled by the battalion, checkpoints were set up and some hostile fighters been detained.

On July 12, 2014, one of the Donetsk leaders from Druzhkivka, Vasyl Chernenko, was detained by battalion fighters. He was accused of organizing terrorist groups and attacking the Ukrainian military [22]

On July 15, 2014, the battalion's fighters detained one of the leaders of the DNR, Oleksiy Pabushkov, a Greek ally of Andriy Borisov, the leader of the fighting wing of the DNR terrorists in Mariupol, nicknamed "Chechen."

On July 25, 2014, the battalion's fighters detained a terrorist from the DNR nicknamed "Flag" who was a gunsmith in a local terrorist cell. The detainee was handed over to the SBU for investigation [24]

Battles for Ilovaisk

On August 10, 2014, the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the participation of fighters of the "Donbass", "Azov", "Shakhtarsk" and "Right Sector" battalions launched an operation to liberate Ilovaisk and eliminate the Donetsk fighter fortification [25]

On August 18, the 2nd Platoon of the Azov Battalion, together with units of the Donbass Battalion and a separate company of the Dnipro Battalion, fought hard on the outskirts of Ilovaisk. In the evening, units of the Azov and Dnipro battalions established themselves on the outskirts of the city.

==Defense of Mariupol==

At the end of August 2014, a group of Azov spies, which included the core of the "Core", was ambushed by hostile fighters, Several soldiers were killed on the spot, others later ended up in Russian prisons. After some time, hostile fighters called Mykola's relatives and said that Mykola Samofalov - "Kernel" was no more. He is considered missing, the approximate date of death is August 31.

On September 5, together with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they defended Mariupol in the vicinity of Novoazovsk.

On October 12, soldiers of the regiment with soldiers of the Armed Forces neutralized an enemy tank that was shelling Ukrainian military positions. The enemy command, which later arrived in a jeep at the scene, was also eliminated.

In November 2014, the regiment's leadership, together with the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, detained a Russian citizen tried to join the unit on behalf of the Russian special services and provide information on Azov's activities and operations manual, for which he had components for the installation of remote control explosives [29] {{clarify| the explosives don’t go with the operation manual, preposition mistranslated or something|date=March 2022}}

==Reorganization and integration into the National Guard==

On September 17, 2014, by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov, the Azov Battalion was reorganized and expanded into a regiment of the same name. Andriy Biletsky remained the commander of the newly formed regiment [30]

On October 4, it was reported{{who|date=March 2022}} that Azov soldiers, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine, detained a deserter - an ensign of the National Guard, who for three months "leaked" data on the movement of Ukrainian troops to the so-called "DPR" [31]

On October 9, it was decided to transfer the Azov Special Purpose Regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to the National Guard of Ukraine, which was to provide the unit with special staffing and training of its soldiers, begin forming its staff and reserve, and transfer military equipment. [1] Regiment Commander Andriy Biletsky noted that the unit was in the process of formation, it included an artillery division, which had already begun training shootings, and included a regiment and a tank unit

On November 11, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov signed an order to transfer the Azov Regiment to the National Guard of Ukraine with further completion to the combat standard of the National Guard brigades [33] [34] [35]

On November 28, a reconnaissance group of the Azov Regiment destroyed a terrorist reconnaissance group operating in the vicinity of Mariupol, killing two terrorists and wounding one, and Ukrainian forces retreated without loss due to artillery fire.

===Offensive on Shirokino===

plan-scheme of the Shirokino offensive operation conducted by the Azov Regiment

On February 10, 2015, the regiment liberated five settlements east of Mariupol: Pavlopol, Kominternove, Berdyanske, Shirking and

On April 18, 2015, Georgy Dzhanelidze was killed in a battle with the occupiers near the village of Shirokine. He was mortally wounded, his body remained in the area where the shooting took place, Russian terrorists did not allow him to be taken away, and later mined. Georgi's body was removed after 10 hours of talks with the OSCE. Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili later said that a Georgian volunteer had killed a Russian instructor before he died.

On June 18, 2015, on the anniversary of the liberation of Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists, Regiment Commander Andriy Biletsky announced the reorganization of the Azov Regiment into a separate special brigade. The staff of the newly created brigade will be increased to 2.5 thousand troops. The current staff of the regiment does not allow to satisfy the place of all volunteers. [38]

2016

In August 2016, according to some sources at the initiative of Allerov [39], part of the formation was assigned to the protection of checkpoints in Zaporozhye.

2019

During the tournament, for the best artillery calculation involved in the operation of the Joint Forces, which took place from 12 to 14 August, the fighters of a special detachment of special purpose "Azov" NMU won. [40]

On the night of August 29, Azov fighters defeated the DRG in Svitlodarska Duka.

==Azov Military Education Institutes==

===Yevhen Konovalets Military School===

Read more: Yevhen Konovalets Military School

Yevhen Konovalets Military School is a specialized school for training sergeants. It opened on April 17, 2016, at the training and mobilization base of the Azov Regiment, located on the site of the former ATEK plant in Kyiv [42] Part of the training was also held at the bases of the Azov Regiment in eastern Ukraine.

The founder and head of the school is Giorgi Kuparashvili, a former Georgian special forces commander who has repeatedly participated in hostilities. The instructors of the school are officers of the Georgian army, most of whom received officer training in the United States under the "green beret" program. The training is conducted according to NATO standards with enhanced physical and psychological training. Georgian, American and Estonian experiences are also involved. Cadets receive training in tactics, topography, psychological training and work with the media [43]

The first cohort included 50 soldiers from the Azov Regiment. After four months of training, 25 graduates received certificates of sergeants, which were presented to them on September 29, 2016, on the site of the museum "Kyiv Fortress" [44]

Chevron of the partisan detachment "Black Corps" , which became the personnel base of the battalion, and later the "Azov” Regiment.

===Cornet school named after Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Stsiborsky===

{{rough translation}}

Details: Mykola Stsiborsky Cornet School

Khorunzha School named after Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Stsiborsky is a specialized school to training non-commissioned officers. Opened on November 20, 2017, on the basis of the AZOV regiment (Mariupol). It was planned to start the direction of training in working with personnel, training of ideologues.

The cadets included persons who are in the position of deputy commander of individual units of the company level. All teachers have a degree. Involved teachers from the Dnieper universities were preparing a program to reform the work with personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine rejected this idea.

The training should last 33 days. During the school day, students can listen to 5 lecture or seminar pairs, in addition, there will be classes on physical education (hand-to-hand, knife fighting) and fire training. Disciplines of applied orientation (military psychology, military pedagogy, rhetoric), ideological and purely military subjects are also taught.

Upon completion of the course, graduates received a diploma, and their departments - banners, awards and special badges. Therefore, each unit would have its own battle flag and a person who would be responsible for it. [45]

The first issue took place on December 22, 2017. [46]

==Participation in civilian life==

On September 29, 2014, an ambiguous statement was issued by the OSCE Mission to lead the Azov Regiment's riots during the demolition of a monument in Kharkiv.

==Participation in politics==

In September 2016, Andriy Biletsky announced the creation of a new political party on the Day of the Intercession. On October 14, 2016, the National Corps political party was founded. The Azov Regiment, as a unit of the National Guard, does not participate in politics, but is closely associated with the Azov Civil Corps and the National Squads, which include former Azov fighters and volunteers. Due to the close ties with the activities of the political party and the international activities of some veterans and current members of Azov, the Bellingcat investigative team accused it of systematically recruiting American far-right extremists since 2015, promoting its own international agenda, and liaising with the US far-right Atomwaffen Division, Rise Above Movement. [49] National Corps Speaker Roman Chernyshov commented on the situation, saying that Bellingcat was a "set of horror stories, clichés and stereotypes." According to him, journalists are trying to "denigrate the Azov movement" by mixing in the publication the Azov Regiment and the National Corps. [50]

==Accusations of neo-Nazism==

From the first months of Azov's existence, some media (especially Russian) and researchers have accused it of neo-Nazi ideology. [51] [52] [53] [53] [54] [55] In particular, they pointed to the use of the "Azov" neo-Nazi occult symbol "black sun" [56]

Researchers of modern far-right movements in Ukraine Andreas Umland, Vyacheslav Likhachev, and Anton Shekhovtsov argued that the Social National Assembly and the Patriot of Ukraine, which largely formed Azov in 2014, were neo-Nazi. [57] [58 ] [51] According to Likhachev and Shekhovtsov, the name "Black Corps" is a reference to the official SS newspaper Das Schwarze Korps [ 59] [51] Shekhovtsov also pointed out that Azov includes members of the international neo-Nazi movement Misanthropic Division [de] who claimed that their "black squadrons were fighting in the ranks of the pagan battalion" Azov "against the remnants of modern society - Khachs, Communists, Liberals, Asians and other undermen."

Andreas Umland pointed out that neo-Nazis from Russia - Roman Zheleznov, Alexei Kozhemyakin and Alexander Parinov - fought in the Azov. The latter was previously linked to "one of Putin's most notorious neo-Nazi groups," the Fighting Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN). According to Umland, "Azov" is "one of the most problematic and unusual of the new armed forces of Ukraine," "the leadership of the regiment before its creation most demonstratively and unequivocally declared its own biological racism." In particular, Andriy Biletsky stated that "the treatment of our National organism must begin with the Racial Purification of the Nation", [60] and Oleg Odnorozhenkosaid that "the intelligent man (Homo sapiens), in the biological sense, we consider only the White European Man." According to Umland, members of the SNA on Maidan repeatedly attacked people with "non-Slavic" appearances. At the same time, Andriy Biletsky stated in 2014 that “We did not back down. Everything that is in the soul of "Azov" - comes from its right ideology, the legacy of the "Patriot of Ukraine".[57]

In 2014, Vyacheslav Likhachev claimed that people with neo-Nazi views were a minority in the battalion, and he was even aware of cases where people with "leftist , anti-fascist views" went to fight in Azov. At the same time, in 2018, he stated that, according to his information, Azov was undergoing a systematic ideological indoctrination of fighters, and there were cases when eighteen -year-old apolitical boys became conscious neo-Nazis in six months.

The Azov Regiment itself usually denies ties to neo-Nazism. At the same time, in a 2015 interview with USA Today, the regiment's representative, Andriy Dyachenko stated that "only 10-20%" of the regiment's soldiers are neo- Nazis.

Ukrainian journalist, blogger and public figure Olena Bilozerska, visiting Azov, said: [63]

The Patriot of Ukraine and the SNA form the backbone of Azov, but not all of the battalion's fighters are nationalists. People with more moderate views are not embarrassed by the neighborhood of guys with tattooed runes and inscriptions such as "100% racist".

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov commented on the issue of radical right-wing ideology professed by the majority of Azov fighters [64] :

Yes, most of the guys present in the Azov Battalion have their own perception of the world. But who told you that you can judge them? Don't forget what the Azov Battalion has done for the country. I spent many hours talking to Azov fighters. There is no Nazism or swastika there.

Original text (in Russian)

Yes, most of the guys gathered in the Azov Battalion have their own perception of the world. But who told you that you can judge them? Don't forget what the Azov Battalion has done for the country. I spent many hours talking to Azov fighters. There is no Nazism or swastika.

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Units and formations of the National Guard of Ukraine]]