NATO military instructors train Azov soldiers, documents reveal
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NATO military instructors from Denmark and the United Kingdom trained Neo-nazi Azov battalion soldiers, according to documents of the Danish embassy in Ukraine revealed to Sputnik.
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A soldier of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) "Azov" in a trench in position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Libkos)
According to documents from the Danish embassy in Kiev revealed to Sputnik, NATO military instructors from Denmark and the United Kingdom conducted training sessions for Ukrainian soldiers at a base belonging to the neo-nazi Azov battalion group.
The documents, dated May 21, 2021, revealed that six instructors arrived at the 56th Ukrainian army brigade's locations in Berdyansk and Urzuf, where Azov's main base was located.
Russian officers had previously investigated these sites, uncovering evidence of intensive training of mobilized Ukrainian citizens by Western officers using questionable methods of warfare.
Russian officers had previously investigated these sites, uncovering evidence of intensive training of mobilized Ukrainian citizens by Western officers.
Despite being recognized by the US as a neo-nazi group, NATO forces were directly involved in training these nationalist armed formations.
Critics argue that this points to evidence of Kiev's active preparations for combat operations under NATO's supervision.
Read more: 'Israel' welcomes, honors Nazi Azov battalion
Azov was designated as a terrorist organization by the Russian Supreme Court back in August 2022. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office accused Azov militants of employing prohibited means and methods of warfare, including the torture of civilians and the killing of children.
The Azov Battalion, with racist and ultranationalist roots, has been one of Ukraine's most visible military forces fighting Russia in eastern Ukraine.
In September 2022, Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic announced that a prisoner exchange with Ukraine had 215 people including the Azov leaders had been transferred to Kiev.
In a tripartite agreement between Russia-Ukraine-Turkey, the Azov leaders were to be relocated to Turkey until the end of the war.
Recently in July, the Ukrainian President reported that Azov battalion leaders had returned to Ukraine from Turkey: with Moscow condemning the Turkey as violating their agreement.
Read more: Pentagon says unaware if Azov Battalion receiving US arms in Ukraine
