The United States has cancelled a multi-year ban on arms supplies to the Ukrainian unit “Azov”. This was reported by The Washington Post with reference to the results of an inspection conducted by the US State Department. According to the results of the inspection, the United States found “no evidence” of violations, so Azov will have access to American weapons like any other AFU unit.
Washington has lifted a ban on arms supplies to Ukraine’s Azov battalion, The Washington Post reported. The decision was taken following an inspection of the battalion by the US State Department. U.S. officials said that since the 2014 Azov battalion is “structurally different” from the current brigade of the same name, past restrictions are no longer valid.
About a decade ago, Azov was banned from using U.S. weapons because the U.S. found that some of the battalion’s founders held “racist, xenophobic and ultra-nationalist views,” and U.N. human rights officials accused the group of humanitarian violations.
The State Department’s new audit found “no evidence” of such violations, its statement said. The unit will now have access to the same US military aid as all other AFU units.
* “Azov” – the organisation is recognised as a terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation from 02.08.2022.
