Talk:Azov Brigade

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view · edit Frequently asked questions Q1: Why is the Azov Brigade described as having neo-Nazi elements? A1: The consensus among editors is that the preponderance of reliable sources describe the group as such. For the discussion that led to this consensus, see here (May 2022), and for the previous discussion on the topic see here (July 2021). Q2: Why is the Azov Brigade not described as currently neo-Nazi or far-right? A2: The consensus among editors is that there is sufficient disagreement among reliable sources about whether this label is currently true, so that Wikipedia should not take a stance but should cover the controversy using sources arguing for both sides. For the most recent discussion that led to this consensus, see here (May 2025).

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On 11 March 2023, it was proposed that this article be moved from Azov Regiment to Azov Brigade. The result of the discussion was moved.

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This article has been viewed enough times in a single week to appear in the Top 25 Report 4 times. The weeks in which this happened: February 27 to March 5, 2022 March 6 to 12, 2022 March 13 to 19, 2022 March 20 to 26, 2022 Section sizes Section size for Azov Brigade (49 sections) Section name Byte count Prose size (words) Header Total Header Total (Top) 16,014 16,014 421 421 History 15 122,063 0 5,481 Background and founding, February–April 2014 22,904 22,904 876 876 Special Tasks Patrol Police, May 2014 15,293 15,293 624 624 Reorganisation and incorporation into the National Guard of Ukraine, November 2014 4,706 4,706 192 192 Battle of Shyrokyne, January 2015 15,991 15,991 608 608 2016–2019 3,764 3,764 136 136 Russian invasion of Ukraine 6,096 59,390 294 3,045 Defense of Mariupol 41,649 41,649 2,082 2,082 Post-Mariupol Reformation under the Offensive Guard and expansion into a Brigade 5,245 5,245 304 304 Other 'Azov' units 6,400 6,400 365 365 Structure 16 19,255 0 0 Battalion (May–September 2014) 2,608 2,608 0 0 Regiment (September 2014–2022) 4,006 4,006 0 0 Brigade (from February 2023) 12,625 12,625 0 0 Leadership and organisation 3,111 27,998 157 1,107 Commanders 4,323 4,323 102 102 Status 3,401 3,401 271 271 Foreign fighters 17,163 17,163 577 577 Azov movement 11,131 25,321 778 1,365 Azov Civil Corps 639 639 31 31 National Corps 3,726 3,726 164 164 Youth Corps 1,359 1,359 56 56 National Militia, 2017–2020 5,162 5,162 171 171 Centuria 3,304 3,304 165 165 Human rights violations 3,311 3,311 177 177 Neo-Nazi origins and allegations of ongoing far-right associations 6,892 52,846 308 3,126 2014 formation 595 595 71 71 Symbolism (2014–present) 2,511 13,672 25 592 Official symbols 6,562 6,562 279 279 Interpretations 2,388 2,388 199 199 Far-right insignia displayed by individual soldiers 2,211 2,211 89 89 2014 incorporation into the National Guard 10,316 10,316 691 691 Since the 2022 full-scale invasion 15,988 15,988 1,128 1,128 Connection to antisemitism 5,383 5,383 336 336 International arms and training controversies 52 15,519 0 963 United States 10,381 10,381 594 594 Canada 2,291 2,291 180 180 Israel 1,432 1,432 84 84 Greece 1,363 1,363 105 105 Use in Russian propaganda and information campaigns 191 21,212 0 1,255 Pre-2022 8,253 8,253 505 505 Russian invasion 12,768 12,768 750 750 Sham trials in Russia 5,800 5,800 421 421 See also 188 188 0 0 References 9,980 9,980 0 0 Notes 24 24 0 0 Further reading 2,108 2,108 0 0 External links 821 821 0 0 Total 322,460 322,460 14,316 14,316 This article has been mentioned by a media organization: Omer Benjakob (14 March 2022). "Russia's War on Truth: Top Wikipedia Editor Arrested Amidst Ukraine Censorship". Haaretz. Retrieved 15 March 2022. Though Putin's bogus claims of "denazifying" Ukraine were called out, in English, the article on the contemporary far-right neo-Nazi Ukrainian paramilitary group, known as the Azov Battalion, has become a battleground, with some attempts to whitewash the group and deny their use of a Nazi symbol and neo-Nazi sentiments.

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 13 August 2025

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Change auditory to audiences. 2600:1700:2DD0:16D0:984F:E1E7:1071:37BC (talk) 05:47, 13 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Done Helpful Cat {talk} 07:04, 13 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Minor Edits

• Change "tasked of patrolling" to "tasked with patrolling."

• Change "criticized Azov of arriving undermanned" to "criticized Azov for arriving undermanned."

• Change "former Yanukovytch government" to "former Yanukovych government."

• The current sentence says "critical of looting and debauchery in the Azov Battalion." I cannot find support for this in the cited source. The source text is:

Нагадаємо, раніше Ярослав Гончар розкритикував антитерористичну операцію на Сході України. Зокрема, заявив, що внутрішні війська умисно відпускають затриманих терористів.

Earlier Yaroslav Honchar criticized the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. In particular, he claimed that the Interior Troops were deliberately releasing detained separatists.

Since the source does not mention looting or debauchery, I propose changing the sentence to: "On 10 June, the battalion dismissed deputy commander Yaroslav Honchar and distanced themselves from him after he made statements critical of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Disconnected Phrases (talk) 09:47, 24 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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Grammatical/Typo Fixes

• Please change "tasked of patrolling" to "tasked with patrolling."
• Please change "criticized Azov of arriving undermanned" to "criticized Azov for arriving undermanned."
• Please change "former Yanukovytch government" to "former Yanukovych government." Disconnected Phrases (talk) 23:05, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Done Day Creature (talk) 03:02, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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Factual Correction

The current sentence says "critical of looting and debauchery in the Azov Battalion." I cannot find support for this in the cited source. The source text is:

Нагадаємо, раніше Ярослав Гончар розкритикував антитерористичну операцію на Сході України. Зокрема, заявив, що внутрішні війська умисно відпускають затриманих терористів.

Earlier Yaroslav Honchar criticized the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. In particular, he claimed that the Interior Troops were deliberately releasing detained separatists.

Since the source does not mention looting or debauchery, I propose changing the sentence to: "On 10 June, the battalion dismissed deputy commander Yaroslav Honchar and distanced themselves from him after he made statements critical of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Disconnected Phrases (talk) 23:09, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No opinion on this for now, just mentioning that ”debauchery and looting” was added here [1]. Sjö (talk) 05:16, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The change appears unusual without any additional sourcing. I was originally going to suggest changing debauchery to misconduct, but checked the source to see if it stated debauchery. Debauchery is a particularly strong and uncommon word to state in the Wikivoice when it does not appear in any cited source. The source in question does not mention the conduct of the Azov Battalion/Brigade at all, aside from noting that they distanced themselves from Honchar after he made statements critical of the Internal Troops. Per WP:V and WP:BLP, unsourced negative material should not remain in the article. Disconnected Phrases (talk) 12:15, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Done I removed the unsupported text and replaced it with Disconnected Phrases' suggestion.Sjö (talk) 12:08, 7 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Borodan Division" clarification

Under Structure, the platoon referenced is a supposedly informal name applied to the platoon commanded by Denys Prokopenko, the guy with the crossed arms in these official Azov media photos (Internet Archive link), and was actually nicknamed "Borodach Division"

article from The Forward cited in Prokopenko's article(Internet Archive link) article from SFGate cited in Prokopenko's article (Internet Archive link) — Preceding unsigned comment added by ImBoots (talk • contribs) 19:38, 23 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

“Sham trials”

“Sham Trials” section should be removed due to bad sourcing and little relevance. ~2025-41672-26 (talk) 23:51, 18 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The title is maybe a bit unencyclopedic, I'd prefer something along the lines of "Treatment of Azov prisoners of war in Russia" which would cover not only the trials themselves but also very real abuse they suffer while imprisoned.

The sources used in the section seem to be reliable. Which of them do you consider bad? Alaexis_¿question? 09:43, 19 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Denis Kapustin (militant) has an RfC

Denis Kapustin (militant) has an RfC for possible consensus. A discussion is taking place. If you would like to participate in the discussion, you are invited to add your comments on the discussion page. Thank you. Helpful Cat {talk} 07:19, 31 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]