The founder of the Azov battalion, Andrey Biletsky, announced on Thursday that the paramilitary regiment he leads has officially become a separate brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces.
“The Azov Battalion is now a 3rd assault brigade separate from the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our path begins in the most difficult direction: in Bakhmut”said Biletski in the personal account on the Telegram social network.
“The decisive battle in this war is yet to come”said Biletsky, who assured that the military command imposed “new responsibilities” on them and stressed that the Azov battalion is “preparing many surprises” for Russian soldiers, for whom the winter “will be warm”.
Biletski promised that the “evolution” of the battalion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces will continue, noting that they are now the “third separate assault brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.
“Our flags symbolize the permanence of the traditions of the Ukrainian state: from princely times to the Cossack period, the first liberation struggle to today”reads in the message.
The presence of this battalion and reserve regimental status granted by the Kiev government is controversial due to the origins of many of its leaders, recognized white supremacists, such as Andrey Biletski himself, who served in Moscow’s alleged crusade to “denazify.” the Ukraine.
The battalion was born in 2014 as a resistance movement against pro-Russian forces in the Donbass region.
This paramilitary squadron was considered a terrorist organization by the Supreme Court of Russia and took an active part in the battle of Mariupol, although it eventually fell, despite attempts to resist at the Azovstal steel mill.
Source: DN
