The Azov Regiment evolved out of a battalion that was formed in 2014 and fought against Russian-backed separatists
Credit: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
The Biden administration has lifted restrictions on the transfer of American weapons and training to the Azov Brigade, a controversial Ukrainian military unit.
The move will help the Azov Brigade, among Ukraine’s most effective and popular fighting units, move beyond its reputation as a far-right movement.
US laws prohibit providing equipment and training to foreign military units or individuals suspected of committing gross human rights violations, but the State Department said it found “no evidence of Gross Violations of Human Rights committed” by the force.
The brigade has tried to move away from its ultranationalist origins since the start of the war. Its soldiers played a key part in the defence of Mariupol.
“This is a new page in our unit’s history,” the Azov Brigade wrote in a statement. “Azov is becoming even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for occupiers.”
“Obtaining western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat ability of Azov, but most importantly, contribute to the preservation of the lives and the health of personnel,” the statement said.
Moscow has repeatedly portrayed the Azov as a Nazi group and accused it of atrocities – without providing evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US move was “extremely negative”.
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11 June 2024 • 1:41pm
1:41PM
Russian hybrid operations very concerning, say Romania, Poland and Latvia
Russia’s malign hybrid activities in Nato countries are a source of deep concern, the presidents of Romania, Poland and Latvia said on Tuesday in a statement released to coincide with a meeting of eastern members of the alliance.
Countries on Nato’s eastern flank say that Russia is using tactics ranging from sabotage and cyberattacks to illegal migration to destabilise them due to their support for Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied accusations that it is behind such activities.
“We are deeply concerned about Russia’s recent malignant hybrid activities on Allied territory, which constitute a threat to Allied security,” the presidents said in the statement.
“We will act individually and collectively to address these actions, boost our resilience and continue to coordinate closely to ensure that the Alliance and Allies are prepared to deter and defend against hybrid actions or attacks.”
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that 10 people had been arrested in Poland in recent weeks for acts of sabotage.
Czech prime minister Petr Fiala said on Monday that Russia may have been behind an attempted arson attack on Prague city buses last week.
1:22PM
EU voters showed clear support for pro-Ukraine parties, Scholz says
Voters in the European Union showed clear support for parties who back Ukraine in the bloc’s parliamentary elections, German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said.
“The European elections have brought clear results. An overwhelming majority of citizens support parties that also agree that Ukraine must be supported,” Mr Scholz said, standing alongside Volodymyr Zelensky.
12:58PM
Turkish foreign minister discusses economic issues with Lavrov in Russia
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of nations
Credit: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan raised “economic issues that are important for Turkey” with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday and they also discussed the war in Gaza, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
The source gave no details on the talks, which took place in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod where Fidan was attending a meeting of the BRICS group. Fidan said last week that Turkey, a Nato ally, may consider joining the group, which Moscow hopes will one day challenge US domination of the global economy.
12:40PM
Zelensky says Kyiv has done everything needed to start EU accession negotiations
Ukraine has done everything it needs to start accession negotiations with the European Union, Volodymyr Zelensky said in Berlin.
He made the remark during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
12:22PM
China urges greater BRICS role as Western sanctions mount
China has urged the BRICS bloc of nations to take on greater responsibilities and establish itself as being inclusive to the world, foreign minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, in the wake of Western sanctions and trade restrictions imposed on the country.
Many Chinese companies have faced Western sanctions over their support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the European Commission is set to announce tariffs this week on Chinese EVs in a bid to protect European carmakers.
This week, the G7 wealthy democracies is expected to send a tough warning to smaller Chinese banks to stop helping Russia evade Western sanctions, Reuters reported.
The politicisation of economic issues had grown along with unilateral sanctions and technological barriers, Mr Wang said at a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod, without naming any countries. His remarks were published by his ministry.
12:13PM
Russia says captured two more eastern Ukrainian villages
Russia said Tuesday it had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, in the latest in a string of gains for Moscow on the battlefield.
Moscow’s defence ministry said Russian forces took Timkovka in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Miasozharivka, calling it by its Russian name of Artemovka, in the eastern Lugansk region.
The reports could not be immediately verified.
11:26AM
Sri Lanka says Russia to stop recruiting fighters from the island
Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said it had received assurances from Russia that it would stop recruiting the island nation’s citizens to fight in Ukraine following allegations thousands had been duped into combat roles.
Relatives have urged Colombo to bring back the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, at least 16 of whom have been reported killed and 37 wounded in the fighting, according to parliament, with around a dozen others reportedly held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Sri Lankan foreign minister Ali Sabry raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS ministerial meeting in Moscow on Monday, the ministry said.
“At the request of minister Ali Sabry, it was also agreed that no further recruitment from Sri Lanka will be done,” the ministry said.
11:09AM
Russian fighter-bomber crashes after ‘technical fault’
A Russian military jet crashed during a training flight in North Ossetia, killing two people on board, the defence ministry said Tuesday.
The Sukhoi SU-34 jet crashed “in a mountainous zone” and there was “no damage on the ground”,