In recent days, a delegation of the Ukrainian Azov Battalion - an openly neo-Nazi battalion - has met with Israeli officials in the military and the establishment, in "Israel." 

The Azov and Aidar battalions - two of the most prominent neo-Nazi parties that have been accused of greasing bullets with pig fat to shoot Muslims - have been active on the ground in disenfranchised areas in eastern Ukraine before the said area joined Russia by popular referendum earlier this year. The battalions are official bodies within the Ukrainian military. 

The Azov delegation arrived in "Israel" on Thursday, and was led by Ilya Samoilenko, who led the battles in Mariupol at the Azovstal steel factory. Yulia Fedosyul, who is the deputy head of the 'Association of Azovsatal Defenders' Families', also joined the delegation. 

Samoilenko was a former prisoner taken by Russia, freed upon a prisoner exchange. He came to "Israel" to advocate for Azov prisoners still taken as prisoners, whom he called "proud men and good fighters."

🇮🇱 «Азов» в Ізраїлі

Розпочалась робоча поїздка в Ізраїль військовослужбовця полку «Азов» Іллі Самойленка та заступниці голови Асоціації родин захисників «Азовсталі» Юлії Федосюк.

Деталі: https://t.co/fpwrtpT4Sy pic.twitter.com/ooBRFHRnpL

— Асоціація родин захисників «Азовсталі» (@AzovstalFam) December 15, 2022

The Israeli Friends of Ukraine organization initiated the visit, it being backed by the Ukrainian Embassy in "Israel" and the Nadav Foundation. Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an international Zionist NGO, refused to condemn the Pentagon's honoring of a veteran of the Azov Battalion who dons Nazi-inspired tattoos.

The delegation also visited Masada on Saturday, where "Jewish rebels held out against the Roman army in 73 CE," for historical context. 

The delegation said: "When today in Israel we talk about the defense of Mariupol, the Israelis, understanding, first of all, the military differences between the war 2,000 years ago and today, constantly repeat: 'Mariupol is your Masada.' And we will definitely return there."

Meeting with Israeli reservists during their visit to "Israel" the Azov delegation discussed their similarities with the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), in addition to similarities and differences between the Ukrainian and Israeli militaries. 

A founder of Israeli Friends of Ukraine, Anna Zharova, said the visit is the organization's "most important project since the beginning of the war."

In May, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the battalion, arguing that "Israeli mercenaries are actually shoulder-to-shoulder with the Azov militants.”

Officials in the regiment claim that the battalion "has changed" and that it is not neo-Nazi anymore. 

Read next: Zelensky's armed guard spotted with WWII Nazi insignia

In October, Stanford University in the US also welcomed the Azov Battalion at a university event. Their appearance at one of the most prestigious colleges was only one of the group's recent stops in the United States. The organizers of a prior gathering in New Jersey stated that they sought to "dispel the Russian agitprop that the Azov regiment is Nazi" and collect donations for them.  

The United States and Canada over the years have aided the neo-Nazi units with weapons and training, strengthening their presence in Ukraine. 

Read more: CIA manages training program for Ukrainian paramilitaries: reports