Ukraine's voluntary militia called the Azov Battalion holds artillery training in east Ukraine's village of Urzuf that sits west of the port city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea, March 19, 2015.
Credit: REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Reuters: Ultra-nationalist Ukrainian battalion gears up for more fighting
(Reuters) - The far-right Azov battalion, whose symbol resembles a black swastika on a yellow background, is preparing to defend the port city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine against a widely expected attack by pro-Russian separatists.
The 1,000 strong ultra-nationalist militia has a reputation as a fierce pro-government fighting force in the almost year-old conflict with the Russia-backed rebels in east Ukraine, and is disdainful of peace efforts.
But the radical views of the commanders of a group affiliated to Ukraine's national guard which works alongside the army, and the use of symbols echoing Nazi emblems have caused alarm in the West and Russia, and could return to haunt Kiev's pro-Western leadership when fighting eventually ends.
WNU Editor: What do I think of this group .... it is a "volunteer battalion' supported by the Ukraine government that loves to show-off their symbol that resembles a black swastika on a yellow background (see the above picture). Another thing about this group .... whenever they show up the fighting and ceasefire breaches always increase exponentially.
11 comments:
Why bother?
Sure this battalion will fight. One battalion does not make an army or turn the tide of war.
It will make cease fires more problematic per the author.
There have been blowtorch divisions on the Russian steppe before. They have held the line but they did not win the war. They also took heavy casualties.
The Russian have regular troops in Eastern Ukraine. The Ukraine government cannot hope to match this without support such as boots on the ground. They are going to get something short of that. The Ukraine president might have the measure of the american Army, but 1st he should have taken a measure of the America CINC.
Houston we have a problem!
The Private always took the measure of his opponents for good or for evil. It was for evil. But it was one reason he was able to gets so far with so little.
The Ukrainian president should know that Obama mostly roars like a pipsqueak mouse on the international stage.
He should go for the negotiated federal solution, because relying on a pipsqueak mouse is just stupid!
I mean come on, the pipsqueak traded a deserter for 5 Taliban commanders.
I would not have taken the black symbol on the shoulder patch as a swatiska. Perhaps it is. Got to look into it.
Aizino,
It's the Wolfsangle, Battalion badge of the SS Galacian Division,
First unfurled at the pits of Babi Yar.
Like the Glacians, Azov are not "first rate" combat troops, they got decimated in Illovask, and couldn't even take the empty village of Shirokino.
They are good at taking selfies, blaming everybody else for their failures, and terrorizing the locals.
There is no US president who would have gone to war in Ukraine. Read Pat Buchanan if you think only liberals think the idea of doing so is nuts. http://buchanan.org/blog/u-s-russia-clash-in-ukraine-15550
Aizino, in the past year I've seen that badge on flags at many neo-Nazi rallies in eastern Ukraine. I always shudder when I see it. Everyone in Ukraine and Russia knows the message that it is sending.
I agree Jay .... they are fodder when the battles intensify, and they are good at terrorizing the local population who do not want these "volunteers" around.
If Poroshenko had any brains he would realize that groups like Azov are harming any hope of Ukraine unification far more than if they were fighting to keep it unified .... which they are not very good at either.
correction .... western Ukraine.
Black Knight .... my dad always liked Pat Buchanan's viewpoint on how to confront the Soviet Union/Russia in eastern Europe ... and they are both right. Do not get directly involved .... but be vocal on your principles and position yourself to win the moral argument .... in the end you will have the people and the government will then follow ... albeit reluctantly. But .... sighhh .... the old rules no longer apply.
WNU Editor,
Publically, Port's called/ordered the disbanding and disarming of the Punative Battalions, not suborned to the National Guard, with in 24 hours.
So that Dnipr1, Dnipr 2, Pravy Sector, Donbass,... Etc.
It's being suggested that the Night of the Long Knives is coming, ( a repeat of when the SS liquidated the SA),
But for Port's it's tricky, as these units were the muscle behind the Maiden Coup, and not all suborned themselves to the National Guard.
What's the old Chinese Curse,.... May you live in interesting times?
WNU,
"are harming any hope of Ukraine unification far more than if they were fighting to keep it unified" unfortunately that's a hope that has no chance for the foreseeable future.
"Everyone in Ukraine and Russia knows the message that it is sending"
Well, it is hard to see how Ukraine could be a partner.
"First unfurled at the pits of Babi Yar."
Good to know
"...position yourself to win the moral argument..." It seems this one of the things Ronald Reagan did when the Soviet Union was held back in Cold War I.
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