All articles tagged with #azov battalion
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy brought back five former Azov battalion commanders from Turkey, violating a prisoner-exchange agreement signed last year. The Kremlin accused Turkey of breaking the terms of the agreement and claimed that NATO pressured Turkey to demonstrate solidarity with the alliance. Russian pro-Kremlin analysts viewed Turkey's actions as an insult to Russia and called for a strong response.
Russian officials accused Turkey of violating an agreement after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy brought back five previously imprisoned commanders of the Azov battalion from Turkey. The commanders had been captured in Mariupol during the conflict with Russia. Russia claimed that Turkey was supposed to keep the prisoners until the end of the war, as per an agreement between Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey. The move by Zelenskyy prompted confusion and criticism from Russia, while human rights organizations criticized the ongoing trial of other Azov soldiers in Russia.
Over 20 Ukrainian soldiers, who were members of the Azov battalion, are facing trial in southern Russia on charges of involvement in a terrorist organization and taking part in action to overthrow the Russia-backed authorities in the Donetsk region. The captured soldiers face sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison if convicted. Two of the 24 people who have faced the charges have been swapped for Russian prisoners of war as part of a prisoner exchange.
Over 20 Ukrainian soldiers, who were captured during fighting in Ukraine, are facing trial in southern Russia. The soldiers were members of the Azov battalion, which Russia has designated as a terrorist group. The defendants are facing charges of involvement in a terrorist organization and taking part in action to overthrow the Russia-backed authorities in the Donetsk region. They face sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison if convicted.
Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner swap, with Ukraine releasing 45 Azov battalion fighters captured during the battle for Mariupol, and Russia releasing three pilots. Neither side provided a full account of the swap. The Azov battalion fighters are considered heroes by many Ukrainians but are vilified in Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry said the pilots were in mortal danger while in captivity. Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to several prisoner exchanges since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine is preparing for an imminent assault on Russian occupying forces, and is calling on civilian men to report to military offices or sign up on their own, sowing panic among those who feel unprepared or unwilling to serve. The much-hyped spring counteroffensive will rely on both new soldiers and more experienced troops newly trained on donated Western equipment, including Leopard 2 tanks. The Ukrainian army has long relied on volunteers, but now many Ukrainian men cannot escape the draft, or at least registering in military offices. Thousands of other civilians are preempting such situations, instead signing up in droves for a force called the Offensive Guard — made up of eight new assault brigades.