Russia sentences 2 Azov fighters to over 20 years in prison
Russian authorities accuse sniper Ruslan Orlov and paramedic Artem Novikov of shooting three civilians in Mariupol in April 2022.
Azov
Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says
The confirmed statistic, which includes multiple units who fought to defend the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, comes amid social media outcry criticizing Ukrainian authorities for failing to return certain captives, including Azov fighters, during the war's largest 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange
Largest-ever Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap comes under fire for lacking Azov fighters, civilians
As Kyiv completed its largest prisoner exchange of the war on May 25, exchanging 1,000 Ukrainian POWs for 1,000 Russians, some spoke out on social media to criticize authorities for failing to return certain captives.
‘No one saw surrender as an option’ – Mariupol defender on historic Azovstal fight and brutal Russian captivity
Warning: This article contains descriptions of graphic scenes. A bullet fired by a Russian sniper hit Azov Brigade member Artem Dubyna in the head and passed through his neck. "He's dead," crackled the message over the radio to his comrades. But Dubyna's heart was still beating. Evacuating his unconscious body
Why Azov Brigade created an International Battalion
Ukrainian history is rich with examples of foreign volunteers participating in wars fought by Ukrainians for their freedom. Latvian Karlis Broze, a lieutenant colonel in the Ukrainian People’s Republic, commanded the Black Zaporozhians company and later led one of the battalions during the Winter Campaign of 1919–1920. German
Mariupol defender appointed commander of Azov Brigade amid military reform
Following the start of Russia's full-scale war in 2022, Hrishenkov defended Mariupol, where he was injured. After 86 days of defending the encircled city under heavy Russian bombardment, he and about 2,500 other fighters left the Azovstal steel plant after Ukrainian commanders ordered the defending garrison to lay down their arms.
3 Azov POWs sentenced to up to 24 years in occupied territories
Vladislav Ruchka, Andriy Yaroshinsky, and Dmytro Ihnatenko have been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison by Russian proxies in Donetsk.
Azov, Khartiia commanders to lead 2 new National Guard corps
One of the new formations, the 1st Azov Corps, will be led by Colonel Denys Prokopenko, the commander of the 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade.
Azov ex-commander on the need to reform Ukraine's army
The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell sits down with the former commander of Ukraine's Azov Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Krotevych, to discuss the situation on the front line after three years of Russia's full-scale war, why he thinks Ukraine should change its culture of military leadership, why the U.S. army doctrine wouldn't work for Russia's war against Ukraine, and shares his takes on Russia's next steps after a potential ceasefire.
As Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance, ‘Soviet’ command culture damages war effort
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the official response to the Kyiv Independent from Ukraine's General Staff, which came a few days after initial publication. Last February, a Ukrainian company commander going by his callsign Veter was ordered to send his people to reinforce another unit’s
Russia sentences 23 Azov members to prison, including 11 in absentia
Eleven were sentenced in absentia as they had been released in prisoner exchanges, while 12 prisoners of war (POW) still held in Russia have been jailed to between 13 and 23 years in prison.
103 Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity, including 23 Azov fighters
"The vast majority of those released are people who had been held (in captivity) since the first days of the war,” said Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets in a statement.
Ukraine war latest: Azov brigade regains ground in Niu-York; West pledges more military aid for Kyiv
Key developments on Sept. 6: * 'Situation was catastrophic' - Ukraine's Azov says it relieved surrounded troops in Niu-York, regained ground * Zelensky's visit to Ramstein secures air defense, weapons for Ukraine * Ombudsman appeals to UN, Red Cross over alleged execution of Ukrainian POW seen on video * Zelensky claims 6,000 Russian
'Situation was catastrophic' - Ukraine's Azov says it relieved surrounded troops in Niu-York, regained ground
"At the time the brigade was deployed to the area, the situation on the front line was catastrophic," the Azov Brigade said on X.
August 24 prisoner exchange did not include any Azov soldiers, brigade commander says
Azov Regiment commander Denys Prokopenko criticized the recent prisoner exchange, expressing disappointment that none of the Azov fighters, who have been in Russian captivity for over two years, were included.
Russian prosecutors seek up to 24 years in prison for 23 Ukrainians who served in Azov Brigade
The Russian Prosecutor's Office claimed that all the prisoners expressed "negative attitudes toward the Russian-speaking population" and supported "pro-Ukrainian radical views."
Azov soldier Ishchenko died in Russian captivity due to 'blunt force trauma,' report shows
Azov Brigade soldier Oleksandr Ishchenko died in Russian captivity due to a blunt force trauma to his chest, according to a forensic expert report, published by Azov deputy commander, Sviatoslav Palamar on Aug. 7.
Ukraine war latest: First F-16 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports
Key developments on July 31: * First F-16 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports * Ukraine downs all 89 Russian drones launched in mass attack * Russia used new 'distracting' drone type during recent attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says * Ukrainian Navy claims attack on Russian weapons depot near Kursk * Azov soldier Oleksandr
Azov soldier Oleksandr Ishchenko dies in Russian captivity, Ukraine's Ombudsman says
Ishchenko was 55-years-old and a native of Mariupol, Ukrainska Pravda reported. He joined the Azov Brigade as a driver shortly after the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion and was captured in Mariupol in 2022.
Azov officer files complaint against State Bureau of Investigation over case of controversial general
Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Krotevych, one of the Azov Brigade's commanders, accused the general of abuse of power and incompetent command of the troops, which led to the loss of Ukraine's territory, as well as personnel.
Zelensky dismisses Lieutenant General accused by soldiers of heavy losses
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 24 that he had replaced the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target industrial facilities in 3 Russian regions
Key developments on June 17: * Ukrainian drones attack metallurgical plant, other facilities in 3 Russian regions, source says * Ukraine hits 15 Russian air defense systems in occupied Crimea over past 2 months, military says * Time will play in Ukraine's favor once F-16s and more Western aid arrive, Syrskyi says * Azov
Azov reports advances in Serebryansky forest, releases video of 'nastiest weapon'
In a comment to the Kyiv Independent on June 17, the brigade said further results of the operation, which began on April 21, could not be reported at this time to protect the "safety and success of operations."
US lifted weapons ban for Ukraine's Azov Brigade, WP reports
The United States will allow Ukraine's Azov Brigade to use weapons provided by the U.S. to fight Russia's full-scale invasion, the U.S. State Department announced on June 10, reversing a long-standing policy.
12 never-before-seen photos from Azovstal defense (Photos)
The defense of the Azovstal steel plant, Ukraine's last stronghold during the Russian siege of Mariupol in the spring of 2022, remains one of the most heroic operations carried out by the Ukrainian soldiers to date. The plant was under constant Russian bombardment for nearly two months, and those stuck
Author of famous Azovstal photos on documenting Ukraine’s iron resistance in Mariupol
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. While hiding from almost non-stop Russian bombardment in the dark and cold bunkers of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Dmytro Kozatskyi took his most famous and arguably most valuable photographs. He showed the world what it was
The Counteroffensive: Inside Ukraine's prisoner of war negotiations with Russia
Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on May 12, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. Prisoner negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are one of the many things obscured
One of youngest Azovstal defenders killed on front lines
Twenty-one-year-old Ukrainian soldier Nazarii Hryntsevych, also known under the call sign "Hrinka," was killed on the front lines, the Contact 12 special forces group of the Azov Brigade said on May 7.
Russian court sentences Ukrainian POW to 18 years in penal colony
Vladyslav Plahotnyk was accused of "participation in a terrorist organization" and "training for terrorism," by being a member of the Azov battalion which Russia has declared a terrorist organization.
Meta: Azov Regiment no longer meets criteria for dangerous organization on Facebook, Instagram
U.S. tech giant Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, no longer designates Ukraine’s Azov Regiment as a “dangerous organization.” This means that Azov Regiment members will be allowed to have accounts on Meta platforms, while content posted by other users about Azov Regiment will no longer
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