“Unlike ordinary Ukrainian soldiers, Azov fighters will not be able to receive a new shipment of US weapons, including artillery shells, armor and communications equipment. Azov since 2017 was banned from receiving US weapons due to suspicions of ties to neo-Nazis,” the publication writes.
In addition, brigade officers are angry that the US ban has prevented one of Ukraine’s most experienced units from training with NATO forces in Europe.
“What worries us is not the lack of American money or funding, but the fact that we will not be allowed to train with NATO units outside of Ukraine,” said Ilya Samoylenko, a brigade staff officer.
“We are one of the few units in Ukraine whose soldiers, sergeants and officers meet NATO standards. However, due to the ban, we lack American weaponry and lose the right to participate in exercises or training programs with US or NATO troops in Europe,” he added.
At the same time, Azov fighters reject accusations of neo-Nazism, stressing that the volunteer brigade now includes fighters from various ethnic and religious groups, including Jewish soldiers.
“Here, like in the US military, there are people from both the right and the left of the political spectrum. Neither race, nor religion, nor political ideology matter much to our soldiers fighting in this war,” said one of the fighters.
Prepared by Unian inf.
Tags: fighters elite Ukrainian unit Azov hit partners spoke accusations bans
