Azov Brigade

The 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov" is a formation of the <a href="/facts/National_Guard_of_Ukraine/0WUKV8tF">National Guard of Ukraine</a> formerly based in <a href="/facts/Mariupol/Dd8xyJI9">Mariupol</a>, in the coastal region of the <a href="/facts/Sea_of_Azov/ScLQDNuX">Sea of Azov</a>, from which it derives its name. It was founded in May 2014 as the Azov Battalion (<a href="/facts/Ukrainian_language/2zDw7rpD">Ukrainian</a>: батальйон «Азов», <a href="/facts/Romanization_of_Ukrainian/GYvveb1q">romanized</a>: Batalion "Azov"), a <a href="/facts/Ukrainian_volunteer_battalions/pfn1Kjva">self-funded volunteer militia</a> under the command of <a href="/facts/Andriy_Biletsky/R0glW451">Andriy Biletsky</a>, to fight <a href="/facts/Russian_people%2527s_militias_in_Ukraine/3sz53no3">Russian-backed forces</a> in the <a href="/facts/War_in_Donbas_(2014%25E2%2580%25932022)/h8WDdxa4">Donbas War</a>. It was formally incorporated into the National Guard on 11 November 2014, and redesignated Special Operations Detachment "Azov", also known as the Azov Regiment. In February 2023, the Ukrainian <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Internal_Affairs_(Ukraine)/neILIV4t">Ministry of Internal Affairs</a> announced that Azov was to be expanded as a <a href="/facts/Brigade/UEvdyao1">brigade</a> of the new <a href="/facts/Offensive_Guard_(Ukraine)/GdnU0J5p">Offensive Guard</a>. As of April 2025, the brigade is part of the <a href="/facts/1st_Azov_Corps_(Ukraine)/1h548Xfp">1st Azov Corps</a>, a newly created formation led by former Azov Brigade commander <a href="/facts/Denys_Prokopenko/7HrQLwrp">Denys Prokopenko</a>.
The unit has drawn controversy over its early and allegedly-continuing association with <a href="/facts/Far-right_politics_in_Ukraine/GEXs6kwd">far-right</a> groups and <a href="/facts/Neo-Nazism/2HJmfQhR">neo-Nazi</a> ideology, its use of controversial symbols linked to <a href="/facts/Nazism/JjsMI4lE">Nazism</a>, and early allegations that members of the unit participated in human rights violations. At its origin, the unit was linked to the far-right Azov Movement. After its integration into the National Guard, the unit was brought under Ukrainian government control, and observers noted a government strategy of integrating far-right militias into the regular military while attempting to limit ideological influence. Some experts argue that the unit has depoliticised, deradicalised and distanced itself from the Azov Movement since its integration into the regular Ukrainian military; others remain critical and argue that the unit remains linked to the movement and to far-right ideology. The Azov Brigade has been a recurring theme of <a href="/facts/Propaganda_in_Russia/qjBUrSHn">Russian propaganda</a>.
The regiment's size was estimated to be around 2,500 combatants in 2017, and around 900 in 2022. Most of the unit's members are Russian speakers from Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. It also includes members from other countries. The regiment gained renewed attention during the <a href="/facts/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/kE7cHvoQ">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>. Russian president <a href="/facts/Vladimir_Putin/DcQdxqbj">Vladimir Putin</a> alleged that Ukraine was controlled by far-right forces, such as Azov, and gave "denazification" as a reason for the invasion. The Azov regiment played a prominent role in the <a href="/facts/Siege_of_Mariupol/y0f8x3Ay">siege of Mariupol</a> and made its final stand at the <a href="/facts/Azovstal_Iron_and_Steel_Works/70YKbHdD">Azovstal steel plant</a>. The siege ended when a significant number of the regiment's fighters, including its commander, <a href="/facts/Denys_Prokopenko/7HrQLwrp">Denys Prokopenko</a>, surrendered to Russian forces on orders from the Ukrainian high command. The unit has been <a href="/facts/List_of_designated_terrorist_groups/LmnuRFFL">designated a terrorist group</a> by Russia since August 2022, after which Russia began sentencing Azov <a href="/facts/Prisoners_of_war/X22JC3Fj">prisoners of war</a> in sham trials.

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Azov Brigade