The Biden administration will lift its ban on the controversial Ukrainian Azov Brigade using US weapons and training, The Washington Post reported. The US State Department’s decision reverses a ban-imposed years ago amid concerns in Washington about the group’s origins.The Azov Brigade is known for its tenacious but ultimately unsuccessful defence of the Azovstal steel mill in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The Azov Brigade was barred from using US arms over allegations that some of its founders espoused racist, xenophobic and ultranationalist views. The UN human rights officials have also accused the Ukrainian military group of humanitarian violations.Now the brigade, a one-time volunteer militia, will have access to the same US military assistance as any other unit.Meanwhile, reacting to the move, the Ukrainian unit said that US weapons will “increase the combat ability of Azov”“This is a new page in our unit’s history,” the Azov Brigade wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Azov is becoming even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for occupiers.”“Obtaining western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat ability of Azov, but most importantly, contribute to the preservation of the lives and the health of personnel,” the statement said.
