Profile: Who are Ukraine’s far-right Azov regiment?

The Azov regiment, a far-right neo-Nazi group in Ukraine, has transitioned into a part of Ukraine's armed forces, street militia, and political party. Russian President Vladimir Putin cited such far-right military units as a justification for his invasion of Ukraine. Azov, initially formed from ultra-nationalist groups in 2014, has around 900 members accused of harboring neo-Nazi ideology. It was later integrated into Ukraine's National Guard. Andriy Biletsky, its founder, has expressed white supremacist beliefs and established the far-right National Corps party. Azov has been accused of human rights violations, with a 2016 UN report detailing war crimes. Internationally, the U.S. and Canada initially distanced themselves from Azov due to its neo-Nazi connections, but the U.S. later lifted its ban. There's been global support from far-right individuals for Azov, with Ukraine becoming a hub for such ideologies. Facebook, which had banned Azov from its platforms, recently reversed its ban, allowing praise for Azov in the context of defending Ukraine, amidst Russia's invasion.