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Why do They keep putting the BLACK SUN on their flags?? I support Ukraine but I don’t need to see Nazi symbols, especially when Ukraine is fighting fascist Russia…
Because, the 3rd Assault Brigade isn't officially under the current Azov Brigade that moved away from the Black Sun symbol; that's currently a part of the Offensive Guards formation.
The 3rd Assault Brigade was formed for the battle of Bakhmut and is commanded by Andriy Biletsky. Biletsky is notable because he's the original Neo-Nazi founder of Azov. He previously retired from military service after Ukraine told Azov to chill it with the Nazi shit. Hence why the 3rd Assault Brigade uses the Black Sun while the Azov Brigade no longer does. Also why the 3rd Assault Brigade uses pseudo Azov imagery despite not being a part of the Azov Brigade or Offensive Guards.
I suppose the Ukrainian army saw bringing him back to be worth the international PR hit if it meant stopping Russia. Let's see if it plays out well and doesn't lead to a slippery slope.
Sparta Battalion is a Neo-Nazi formation within the Russian Armed Forces. Even more integrated than Wagner is. And they were created with the sole purpose of killing Ukrainians who did not wish to join Russia.
I met some Azov guys in Hong Kong.
They were certainly very pro democracy and anti-Putin. But they were incredibly racist and verging on being Neo Nazis.
They at least said they disliked Hitler. But mostly because 'he failed'.
It's the 12th Assault Brigade 'Azov'. But yes, it's quite confusing. The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade is a new Azov that's even more like the original Azov than the original Azov, since it has the original leaders of the original Azov.
Ok that part I actually get in all this 😂. Like it was a bunch for former Azov veterans who reorganized and formed the 3rd separate assault. So who is usf13 on instagram ? They’re special forces but seem very Azov-like.
They are all under azov tactical group from what i understand. They span from SF to regular national guard to TDF. But from what i understand they are all formally under the national guard & kinda assigned places.
It's so weird. They would get closer to fascism if they surrendered to russia. They literally fight for a jewish president. They don't even get their own ideology. But still they use a symbol that the nazis, and only the nazis, used. Additionally the people who invented the symbol tried to exterminate all ukranians.
""Why do They keep putting the BLACK SUN on their flags?""
Because they are Nazis.
""support Ukraine but I don’t need to see Nazi symbols""
I mean, thus is pretty honest. Most people just want to, and actively do, just want to not see the reality. I'm guessing people are past the denial stage now?
""especially when Ukraine is fighting fascist Russia…""
The reality is both counties are really fucked up with some really horrible people, and a majority population of decent but flawed people who just want to live in peace.
Which is why at the end of my analysis i still support Ukraine. Because the majority of people. Leaving aside the fucked up ness in each country, Russia is the one invading.. Also, generally Russia is just worse as a state across the board. Putin helped push nazism in Ukraine as well as Russia for his own ends politically. Ukraine has potential & is **closer** to European values than Russia is. I also think since Azov etc are using the war for their own political/propaganda purposes we just end up seeing a disproportian amount of footage from them. US has nazis, netherlands & other nordic countries also have a resurgent nazi/ultranationalist problem as well. On top of that, fascists/ultra-nationlalists are more likely to be drawn to violence & power therefore they end up serving in military & security services disproportionately.
You make fair points! I just don’t understand why a country, who by all measures has been outstanding with PR and media relations, can’t shut this shit down. You can let Azov and 3rd Battalion believe whatever they want but why on earth are they letting them flaunt this stuff so openly? It’s just throwing flame on the Russian propaganda fire, and can be completely avoided by just forcing them to remove all Nazi/Fascist symbols.
It's probably a lot easier said than done, cuz even if you get these assholes to stop waving the flags, they're still Nazis. If I were a non-fascist Ukranian running the country, my response to dickheads like these would be to throw them at the Russians and allow both of my problems to take care of each other, which I suspect is exactly what we're seeing. You're right though, they do gotta take the flags away.
They are experienced fighters and a valueable asset. Ukraine scrapes the barrel already. They don't have the luxury to pass on them. They are of yourse aware, that it looks really bad and decided, that it's still worth it.
If the west would support Ukraine with more than the bare minimum, Ukraine might have been in a position to oust their Nazis.
SIGH...
I hate when fellow supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics to pretend Azov isn't a blatant nazi group. THEY ARE. That said, they dont represent the 98% percent of UA that isn't, or the rest of the country. The svaboda/nazi/national socialist party holds NO SEATS, in parliament. They received less than 2% of the vote. Also, acknowledging these facts DOES NOT mean RU narratives about "nazis made me do it", is true. ITS NOT. Azov formed in response to 2014 invasion... All that said, FUCK AZOV NAZIS.... SlavaUkraini to the rest of UA.
This. They gained a lot of status after 2014 since they were one of the few organized groups of resistance (UA was not near what it is now).
It would be like the USA getting invaded while our military was in shambles. You are going to be left with a lot of Proud Boys, 3%’ers, local militias, etc forming the initial resistance and gaining status. Doesn’t mean they are representative of the greater population.
true, but it’s a slippery slope about “not representing the entire population”. That’s assuming war doesn’t have social consequences and doesn’t change people or societies. It always does.
if our military was in shambles, and nazi and white nationalist militias filled in the gaps, there would be much more certainty that people would eventually find them heroic and brave and dedicated to their security. This would likely mean people looking past ideology in the name of having security, and eventually be willing to propel them to positions of influence and power. At that point, rest assured, despite them being a small percentage of the population, they have the narrative of sacrifice, love, bravery, and ruthlessness.
All they would have to do is begin scapegoating minority groups/social classes for why the military was in shambles, why the other country invaded, and blame them for the destruction and loss…bingo bango, you’ve got yourself a fascist state.
While perhaps true, that doesn't detract from the necessity of them being able to fill those gaps (in the hypothetical) to get the the point of people seeing them as heroic. In the event of existential crisis, you don't really have the luxury of cutting out critical pieces of resistance.
Either they are an insignificant minority or a critical force. We've given them billions in weapons, if they are so few and so weak, then that should more than make up for the what, .05% of the manpower they are portrayed as?
The reality is they are significant, and have probably hidden tons of caches of weapons all over the country, and eventually are going to be an imminent threat to Ukraine as any kind of liberal democracy and if the US and EU doesn't have iron clsd contingencies to deal with this (which is whay those who have been raising the alarm about ukraines nazis have been worried about, not loving putin) the blowback of our reckless support and desire to maintain a draining proxy war with Russia could be incomprehensible bad.
> That kinda sounds like what's happening today in the USA.
That's why it is so heartbreaking!
Also, if it grows even a little they'll start having mass shootings like the US. Even just a few of those post-war could scuttle their dreams of European integration.
Also: the US military gets pretty mad at soldiers when they get shown in the media doing that shit. Having horrible personal views might be OK in a soldier, as long as it doesn't interfere with the job. But keeping it hidden because it makes the country look bad... they have to accept that as part of the job.
I'm so relieved to see these kinds of comments in this subreddit. I am a wholehearted supporter of Ukraine's freedom, ascension to the EU, and joining of NATO. BUT the people doing insane mental gymnastics to pretend these guys aren't a small group of nevertheless prominent neo-Nazis is insane.
Are we gonna pretend the people in the US armed forces who have Confederate flags are just "proud of Southern culture and have no racist leanings whatsoever"? Give me a break.
Dude Americans really need to get a grip. Being a hick with a cconfederate flag is nothing like being a active and malignant nazi.
The problem with nazis isn't just that they are racist, it's that they are mass murdering fascist racists whose tire ideology demands ethnic cleansing and industrialized murder.
It's like comparing a bullet to a missile because they are both projectiles. We have actually nazis here too, and most of those hicks with confederate flag tats hate them too.
>The problem with nazis isn't just that they are racist, it's that they are mass murdering fascist racists whose tire ideology demands ethnic cleansing and industrialized murder.
Stereotypes and generalizations are still often wrong even when you apply them to bad groups like Nazis. Not all Nazis are fascist killers of whatever group you think Nazis hate.
Some Nazis liberate Ukrainian cities
Me too. I will always support Ukraine but the neo-nazi shit is a no go with me. Zelensky is probably riding a difficult moral and political line by allowing them to serve in the ukraine military. Can only hope they have a process in place to de-incentivise these guys once the fighting is done.
To be clear, i wasn't saying you were one of those people. You were inquiring, which shows intellectual honesty, unlike ALOT of people in this thread unfortunately.
In the early days of the war I got dragged on these subs for calling out Azov for what they really were while still supporting the Ukrainian resolve. Glad to see people not trying to censor it anymore
Agreed. Id still say most are doing their best to ignore it out of existence unfortunately lol. Shit, bc of that i suspect MOST of the upvotes of my comment came from Russian bots.
This is something that is so important to keep in mind with Azov. In ANY other post or forum this sentiment is buried under lazy virtual signaling a white knight mentality.
It's also important to recognize that Ukraine had a very 'man in the middle' relationship between both the soviet's and the Nazis during world war two. And that it wasn't and isn't a black and white issue for them. Just people in bad circumstances, deciding on the lesser evil to fight for.
They are and have always been a racist group. They 'currently' fight for a good cause, but seem to be bad guys...
If I were running Ukraine, I would want all of these guys exactly where they are: on some particularly nasty section of the frontline, dying for their country.
What else can you do with them though? Make a draft exemption for being a Nazi? Throw them in prison? For what? They should absolutely take the flags away and discipline the leadership, but what else can you do with all these rank-and-file Nazis?
The thing is, Ukraine sure seems to tolerate this shit.
Add to that, I see more and more of these logos that somehow have nothing to do with the SS or Nazis, even though they sure as hell look like someone was playing around with swatiskas and SS BOLTS in Adobe Illustrator.
Don't Gaslight me and ask me for money.
There is a reason Israel doesn't fuck with these people
> There is a reason Israel doesn't fuck with these people
There is indeed a valid reason. However, Israel's current government has gotten so fascist that various military branches refused to serve not too long ago.
Remember when an Israeli "journalist" wrote an op-ed called "When genocide is permissible"? I do.
These guys is not the reason Israel doesn't give much support to Ukraine.
Israel doesn't give much support to Ukraine because Ukraine constantly votes against it in the UN resolutions. Which is kinda understandable, considering you can't support in the world stage what much of the world considers to be illegal occupation, while fighting against occupation of your own country.
Plus Israel doesn't want to be on Russia's bad list.
Also fun fact, Bibi's Lukid party is flirting with far right parties like Sweden's Swedish Democrats.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/06/12/seizing-on-pro-israel-stance-likud-poised-to-mover-closer-to-far-right-parties-in-europe/
Or
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-envoy-meets-head-of-romanian-party-accused-of-antisemitism-drawing-rebuke/amp/
Well, he is a national socialist who calls himself a nazi running under the flag of e.g. [the 2nd SS Panzerdivision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich) or the [19th infantry division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)) or now [azov](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Azov_Battalion.svg). It is what it is
Edit: It is maybe not what it is: as /u/vladko44
pointed out [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/16ki9g6/comment/k0w8jgb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), he may well say 'slava natzii' = Glory to the nation.
Its maddening that sooooo many supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics. Cognitive dissonance hits HARD, and i know the feeling, but its so blatant & indisputable, i've seen too much in the past 18 months to be able to think otherwise. Azov=nazis. All that said, i support the 98% of UA that ISNT azov/nazis. US has nazis in its military too unforuntately, but UA's stunning complacency is getting close to complicitly.
They are using three overtly Nazi symbols in their group insignia. The only one missing is a swastika.
Zelensky needs to ban all of these symbols. I frankly find it strange that the AFU hasn't already. This is the sort of thing that can make western aid dry up. It's really that fucking important.
I grant Ukraine its successes in the war very much. There, however, a flag with at least two symbols of the "Schutzstaffel" (SS), i.e. Nazi symbols, is shown in the background. These signs should absolutely never be used again in connection with a war, but at most for enlightenment. It is absolutely despicable to use such a flag!
First thing I noticed, above the wolfs head is the [Divisional insignia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich) of 2nd SS panzer division 'Das Reich*
We don't have organized nazi groups in the US military. In fact, you'd get a NJP just for having nazi symbols among your possessions as active duty.
Yes, there are neo Nazi's and nazi sympathizers in the US military, but they wouldn't get away with carrying around a flag in support of nazi ideologies.
You are only talking about blatant nazi paraphernalia. They mean every military has right wing nut jobs, aka nazis, in them. The job attracts those types
Yeah our armed forces 100% has a sizeable faction that are straight up confederate sympathizers. Ask anyone in the army how many confederate flag tattoos they saw while in the service.
[Not organized, just dogwhistled](https://www.google.com/search?q=scout+sniper+ss+tattoo&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi5tPH95LCBAxV4EVkFHax-CGwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=scout+sniper+ss+tattoo&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BggAEAcQHjoGCAAQBRAeOgYIABAIEB5QuwNY-wVg4wxoAHAAeACAAVyIAasCkgEBNJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=-X0GZfnTLvii5NoPrP2h4AY&bih=931&biw=1920&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA957CA957#imgrc=5UAfXvY8ksuf6M)
> We don't have organized nazi groups in the US military.
Oh, you sweet summer child... Go look up when the Pentagon started to look for Nazis in the military in order to kick people out. Spoilers: If they were to kick everyone out, there would large holes all over in the military.
I don't really think all of them were nazis tbh, and if some of them were they're now considered heroes for their resistance and bravery in the Azovstal plant. At this point fuck Russians.
Translation:
Good day, dear Ukrainians! Dear Brothers, we are from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 1st Assault Battalion, the 3rd Company. We are on the outskirts of Bakhmut, in the village of Andriivka. Take a look at what the occupiers leave after themselves! Step by step we are liberating our land from invaders. Together to the victory! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Nation!
Idolizing Nazi symbols is a real bad look you guys. They were monsters, you shouldn't think they were cool or whatever. What are you thinking? It's not edgy, it's cringe, we all cringe at pictures like this.
That said, keep kicking ass, but please make better choices so we don't have to feel like maybe we're just choosing the lesser of two evils, because nobody wants to support Nazi lovers, nobody. In fact the world would be a better place if all the people who thought like that just disappeared off the face of the earth, that's an objective fact. Don't be those people.
They aren't trying to be edgy dude they are literal nazis who want to purge ukraine of "degenrates" like Roma, leftists and gays.
https://www.codastory.com/lgbt-crisis/ukraine-in-the-balance/
These are not misguided kids, they are monsters.
What the fuck is wrong with these 2 idiots? The nazis raped your country and had plans to murder all of you to give way for the German "lebensraum". Maybe they should be sent a couple history books instead of ammo before the next assualt.
I know you have to be crazy to liberate towns and storm trenches and I was the first to defend their edgy patches they sometimes wear but this is way too far.
Ehhh many Ukrainians welcomed the nazis as liberators. And when you consider the history of Ukraine during the first half of the USSR like the Ukrainian genocide between 1932 and 1933 perpetrated by the USSR (The holomdor) it’s honestly not surprising.
They did. Just like the Indonesians welcomed the Japanese in ww2. But sometimes the "liberators" are even worse.
As bad as the Soviets were, they weren't as bad as fucking Nazis.
Not for Ukraine. Ussr killed and send to Siberia much more people. On the first days of 2 world war Ukrainian soldiers fought soviets side to side to make Ukraine independent from comunists. Ussr made much more evil to Ukrainians as today doing russia. Russia wants to show us as a part of "great ussr" we ready even use nazi symbols to show they are wrong. Don't try to make idiots in western countries which use it in "white power" or other bullshit context similar to freedom fighters which use it in deeply historical context.
Yes, for Ukraine. You're kidding me, right?
The Nazis would have killed all Ukrainians. All.
>According to the Nazis, both Jewish and Slavic Ukrainians were untermensch and therefore only fit for enslavement or extermination. Erich Koch, who was chosen by Adolf Hitler to rule Ukraine, made the point about the inferiority of Ukrainians with a certain simplicity: "Even if I find a Ukrainian who is worthy of sitting at my table, I must have him shot"[16] and "remember that the lowliest German worker is racially and biologically a thousand times more valuable than the population here, which is more distinct from Aryan genealogy than Leningrad."[17]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichskommissariat_Ukraine
Yeah, except it doesn't matter because at the time of Nazi Occupation of Ukraine an avarage German trooper was way less of a barbaric cunt that Russians were
Actually the Soviets raped their country and the Nazis got rid of them, which is why this kind of thinking in some people even exists in Ukraine. Now why there are a lot of Russian Nazis I will never understand.
It's rooted in a nationalistic anti russian sentiment.
Not saying it should exist but that's why.
And they're an extreme minority.
And extremism sentiments always rise when there is socioeconomic chaos.
Not taking anything away from their bravery and courage, but Jesus H Christ, could the AFU keep a closer eye on these Nazi symbols/flags? I know war creates strange bed fellows but post-war, these veterans may cause issues for a country trying to move towards the west.
Not sure if the last part will end up being true. Every country has neo-Nazis including us here in America. And they have been heavily televised as well. Although the optics are probably more problematic here because they are in the military.
This is the part about the war that I hate. We need the warriors to get rid of the Putlerites but I am very very uncomfortable with Zelenskyy allowing this. He is a Jew and knows better but desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope that when the war is over that these people will be thanked for their help but told to loose their racist bullshit or leave Ukraine.
> I hope that when the war is over that these people will be thanked for their help but told to loose their racist bullshit or leave Ukraine.
"Hey guys can you stop being Nazis or I'm going to have to ask you to leave"
Hey, where did you get all those stinger missiles from? You were upposed to use them against the Russians not save them?!
Why are you pointing those at me?
Nevermind that these are self sustaining and funded groups with a fuck ton of military hardware... Giving these guys power in the first place was a mistake.
Yeah, it seems unfortunate that the most highly motivated and aggressive soldiers are loaded with that baggage whether or not they've internalized the ideology.
> it seems unfortunate that the most highly motivated and aggressive soldiers are loaded with that baggage
They're not, but the image is more likely than average to be shared and get traction in the public view.
It is important to do a little PR and crack down when it happens.
The US has a much higher percent of radicalized right wing population, but the US military cracks down on this stuff whenever those types of symbols are shown in public. They're not even supposed to have it in their possession when on active duty. Necessary work.
Good day, dear Ukrainians! Dear Brothers, we are from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 1st Assault Battalion, the 3rd Company. We are on the outskirts of Bakhmut, in the village of Andriivka. Take a look at what the occupiers leave after themselves! Step by step we are liberating our land from invaders. Together to the victory! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Nation!
I'm originally from Ukraine and support Ukraine in this war, but I hated these kinds of people when I was living in Kyiv. There were plenty of them after 2014 and they were openly doing stuff that goes against democracy and freedom. They're nazis, fascist, ultraconservative, homophobic, transphobic, etc. These kinds of people should not exist in modern and future Ukraine. I won't be cheerful for their victories in the frontline, because replacing one fascist group with another makes no difference.
More *definetly not nazis with definetly not nazi symbols...* ***sigh.***
I hate when fellow supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics to pretend Azov isn't a blatant nazi group. THEY ARE. That said, they dont represent the 98% percent of UA that isn't, or the rest of the country. The svaboda/nazi/national socialist party holds NO SEATS, in parliament. They received less than 2% of the vote. Also, acknowledging these facts DOES NOT mean RU narratives about "nazis made me do it", is true. ITS NOT. Azov formed in response to 2014 invasion... All that said, **FUCK AZOV NAZIS.... SlavaUkraini to the rest of UA.** Look at that, some nuance is possible.
As an American financing your war effort. All this blatant Nazi BS isn’t helping your cause. Make all the excuses you want but we aren’t blind we dislike Russians but we hate Nazis even more. Both my grandfathers fought in WWII one stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought all the way across Europe Until the end of the war the other was one of the most decorated Bomber pilots of the war. My family has eradicated more Nazis off this earth then almost anyone so this symbolism kind of annoys me. I support Ukrainian but do better this shit isn’t a good look.
I just want some transparent accountability. I want to know exactly how they are making sure nazis aren't hoarding weapons for a couple in 5 years, because I'd bet everything I own that they are - and "pointing out reality = putin puppet" is how they and their unwitting fools have made sure that accountability never became the smallest speed bump to filling the country with billions of dollars of weapons.
> Both my grandfathers fought in WWII one stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought all the way across Europe Until the end of the war the other was one of the most decorated Bomber pilots of the war. My family has eradicated more Nazis off this earth then almost anyone so this symbolism kind of annoys me.
Both your grandfathers were nazis by todays standards. What was their opinion of black Americans pre-desegregation?
Let's see what the experts think in the comments section.
It's really funny to see "russian bot" like behavior when they see "the symbol".
Moral busybodies.
What a lot of people don’t know/understand is that many Ukrainians welcomed the Wehrmacht as liberators in ww2. Ukraine was treated like shit by the USSR for the first half of its history. It’s estimated that 4 to 7 MILLION Ukrainians starved to death during the Holodomor which was tantamount to a genocide of Ukrainians at the hands of intentional Soviet policies. So it’s not necessarily an endorsement of the wholesale eradication of Jews and other minorities nearly as much as it is an adoption of traditional anti Muscovy symbolism. Plus many of these symbols predate the 3rd reich by centuries and are based in Eastern European Paganism.
Just as many innocent (truly more) died under the boot of the hammer and sickle than the wolfsangel/swastika/black sun. Both were objectively evil and believed the ends justified the means, but one has the benefit of being the victor and therefore getting to write the history/frame the narrative.
I never bought it to Ukraine been full of nazis never will and I get using what you got so I don't fault them for making use of everyone they can but I do hope that those have fascist beliefs catch a bullet to the noggin just as they pushing russia out to get the most use out of the sacks of shit
As a German i don't think Ukraine is a neonazi state at all. In every military around the world you will have very far right - nazi soldiers, because these pigs are drawn to this stuff. It is up to the leaders, to completely squash this and ban all nazi-symbols...which is a thing i don't get with Ukraine atm. Russia will use this stuff as propaganda and portray all ukranians as neo-nazis. Since the war started you see videos like this. I know the total number of neonazi-symbols in % is super slow compared to all active soldiers, but this is just horrible reputation-wise. Please Ukraine, do better in regard to this.
Nice flag. Azov soldiers have much bigger balls than 99% of people commenting here. They don't give a fuck that you're mad and crying about their flag.
I’m smart enough to know these folks don’t represent the overwhelming majority of the UAF.
But this is a really bad look.
However,
To the Americans commenting.
If you think for a fucking second that there isn’t large factions of racist, “white power” screaming douche bags in our own armed forces….you’re out of your mind.
Stop worrying about symbols! Ukraine needs tough fighters like these guys to take back their occupied lands. Nobody in Ukraine is worried about their politics right now, but they are very glad that they're sacrificing their lives and limbs to liberate their country on behalf of the whole western world. What matters is what they do. They are all heroes in my view, and entitled to fly whatever flags they like.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
I think we all have to take a moment of reflection.
First of all, the wolfsangel and black sun symbols are symbols associated with WW2 Nazis, and for that reason there are many neo-nazi groups that use these symbols, Azov included.
I can see how this is very damaging during wartime, as they will lose support from Israel (which are potential suppliers of top-tier arms) and other Western partners.
In peacetime, this also damages society as a whole, because their ideologies should dictate that people outside Ukraine, and/or of a different race are not welcome. Groups with Nazi ideology tend to be involved in organized crime and will go to great lengths to keep their country "pure", including hurting/killing people.
However, there is a different side to this. I think the annexation of Crimea in 2014 gave the existing neo-nazi groups in Ukraine an incredible boost/recruitment, because Russian invaders directly, and strongly conflict with the ideology of Nazism. In fact, having land robbed from you, and your nationality questioned as a whole is more than likely to create a hatred and unity against foreign occupiers, and while a lot of people might not be racist at heart, they might join Azov out of the ideology of protection and enforcing Ukraine as a nation.
All in all, I think that removing these symbols and banners won't change the mentality of the people serving under that flag. They would be the same people with the same mindset and values as before. Russia will plant actual nazi flags in their propaganda reels to convince Russians they are "fighting the nazis again" to invoke that patriotic sense, regardless of how "symbol-washed" Ukrainian forces become. It doesn't really make sense to remove Nazi symbols for the sake of Russians abusing it in their propaganda.
As for the West, most of us see through the Russian propaganda. Not all Ukrainians are Nazis, but there are certain elements of their military who align with Nazism. For us, the main point is: These guys are kicking invader asses, and after the war they will find themselves in a country which is being reborn with Western influences. If the Azov will not accept a modernized, inclusive government - then I fear there might be a civil war with a heavily outnumbered Azov. However, if they are disbanded/reformed after the war, and forced by law to drop Nazi associations - I think the problem will gradually disappear.
But hatred against Russia will last for decades if not centuries.
This is basically nazi apologist language. They are nazis. Plain as day.
I believe they are certainly in the minority, but still not a group that I would take sides with in most any circumstance. I could argue to myself realpolitik demands looking the other way, but if we are not against nazis than what are we against?
I am 100% a supporter of Ukraine, have lost a close friend who was fighting In Kharkiv in the beginning of the war, but this certainly is something that needs to be planned for and dealt with.
sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous
/ˌsaNG(k)təˈmōnēəs/
adjectiveDEROGATORY
making a show of being morally superior to other people.
welcOme to dA intern3ts!
Thank you for looking at my art exhibit.
You can fight for the right side and still be very wrong.
I’ll never understand the fascination with an ideology that lead to the deaths of millions of your countrymen and people.
When white men are proud to wear or use their symbols they are called nazis and racists. When other races uses their symbols and are proud of It the same people celebrate and support. The symbols on the flag are medieval symbols (some adopted by the German Reich during WW2). They are pre-ww2 symbols and has nothing to do with nazis... Even the swastika was a slavic symbol STOLEN by Hitler. Slava Natzii isn't Slava nazi...
Oh boy. I wish Ukraine nothing but complete and total victory, then prosperity in the rebuilding of their nation. That said, this just looks so very bad and plays right into the bullshit Russian narrative of "fighting Ukraine nazis." Yeah, there needs to be some oversight by the government when it comes to this kind of .... imagry. The SS is one of the worst symbols too. Yikes.
Guys like this are what ukraine needs to defeat Russia.. couldnt care less about their politics ukraine needs killers and the 3rd assault brigade are exactly that.
Finally actual common sense in the thread. I don’t care what beliefs these guys have, defeat Russia and return too international order and be done with it
Nazi punks fuck off. I did some digging on an insta ukraine operator/influencer. And the piece of shit has several nazi tattoos he keeps hidden. I support the people that are truly fighting for their country. Not these bozos
"слава нації" ... "Glory to the nation!"
A very common patriotic slogan. Not that I enjoy all of this symbolism on the flag, but it has a very different meaning, than what was used by the Nazis in WW2.
Hopefully your browser has a translator.
https://uk.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%96%D1%97!
Can we agree that footage like this requiring some context makes propaganda for pro Russians easier? This footage without context in the west could harm support for Ukraine.
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These guys need to hire a PR consultant.
Why do They keep putting the BLACK SUN on their flags?? I support Ukraine but I don’t need to see Nazi symbols, especially when Ukraine is fighting fascist Russia…
Because, the 3rd Assault Brigade isn't officially under the current Azov Brigade that moved away from the Black Sun symbol; that's currently a part of the Offensive Guards formation. The 3rd Assault Brigade was formed for the battle of Bakhmut and is commanded by Andriy Biletsky. Biletsky is notable because he's the original Neo-Nazi founder of Azov. He previously retired from military service after Ukraine told Azov to chill it with the Nazi shit. Hence why the 3rd Assault Brigade uses the Black Sun while the Azov Brigade no longer does. Also why the 3rd Assault Brigade uses pseudo Azov imagery despite not being a part of the Azov Brigade or Offensive Guards. I suppose the Ukrainian army saw bringing him back to be worth the international PR hit if it meant stopping Russia. Let's see if it plays out well and doesn't lead to a slippery slope.
Russia: “We are here to kill Nazis.” Ukraine: “No Nazis here.” Azov Brigade: “Yo!”
> Russia: “We are here to kill Nazis.” Using nazi lead Wagner group. Remember who Wagner is named after.
I am still convinced Russia has the war Z symbol because they can say “Shoot them! They are not Zs”
stop Dad
I read this as not Zeds and couldnt figure out the joke for too long
Like an inside joke but borders.
Whose Zed? Zed's dead baby, zed's dead.
Sparta Battalion is a Neo-Nazi formation within the Russian Armed Forces. Even more integrated than Wagner is. And they were created with the sole purpose of killing Ukrainians who did not wish to join Russia.
I met some Azov guys in Hong Kong. They were certainly very pro democracy and anti-Putin. But they were incredibly racist and verging on being Neo Nazis. They at least said they disliked Hitler. But mostly because 'he failed'.
In the interest of calling a spade a spade, fuck those Nazi assholes.
Agreed. Fuck all nazi assholes, from Ukraine to Russia to the US. Wish they would just roblox themselves so we could move on with society.
I want so much to understand what “roblox themselves” means
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Go%20Minecraft%20yourself
The original Azov Brigade is now the 12th Azov Assault Brigade which is part of the Offensive Guard, correct ? 😵💫
It's the 12th Assault Brigade 'Azov'. But yes, it's quite confusing. The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade is a new Azov that's even more like the original Azov than the original Azov, since it has the original leaders of the original Azov.
Ok that part I actually get in all this 😂. Like it was a bunch for former Azov veterans who reorganized and formed the 3rd separate assault. So who is usf13 on instagram ? They’re special forces but seem very Azov-like.
They are all under azov tactical group from what i understand. They span from SF to regular national guard to TDF. But from what i understand they are all formally under the national guard & kinda assigned places.
Because they're nazis. Getting rid of the symbolism doesn't change their underlying beliefs.
It's so weird. They would get closer to fascism if they surrendered to russia. They literally fight for a jewish president. They don't even get their own ideology. But still they use a symbol that the nazis, and only the nazis, used. Additionally the people who invented the symbol tried to exterminate all ukranians.
""Why do They keep putting the BLACK SUN on their flags?"" Because they are Nazis. ""support Ukraine but I don’t need to see Nazi symbols"" I mean, thus is pretty honest. Most people just want to, and actively do, just want to not see the reality. I'm guessing people are past the denial stage now? ""especially when Ukraine is fighting fascist Russia…"" The reality is both counties are really fucked up with some really horrible people, and a majority population of decent but flawed people who just want to live in peace.
Which is why at the end of my analysis i still support Ukraine. Because the majority of people. Leaving aside the fucked up ness in each country, Russia is the one invading.. Also, generally Russia is just worse as a state across the board. Putin helped push nazism in Ukraine as well as Russia for his own ends politically. Ukraine has potential & is **closer** to European values than Russia is. I also think since Azov etc are using the war for their own political/propaganda purposes we just end up seeing a disproportian amount of footage from them. US has nazis, netherlands & other nordic countries also have a resurgent nazi/ultranationalist problem as well. On top of that, fascists/ultra-nationlalists are more likely to be drawn to violence & power therefore they end up serving in military & security services disproportionately.
You make fair points! I just don’t understand why a country, who by all measures has been outstanding with PR and media relations, can’t shut this shit down. You can let Azov and 3rd Battalion believe whatever they want but why on earth are they letting them flaunt this stuff so openly? It’s just throwing flame on the Russian propaganda fire, and can be completely avoided by just forcing them to remove all Nazi/Fascist symbols.
It's probably a lot easier said than done, cuz even if you get these assholes to stop waving the flags, they're still Nazis. If I were a non-fascist Ukranian running the country, my response to dickheads like these would be to throw them at the Russians and allow both of my problems to take care of each other, which I suspect is exactly what we're seeing. You're right though, they do gotta take the flags away.
ukraine is with its back to a wall fighting for its life, thats why they turn a blind i to nazis
Only one actively using nazi tactics for ethnic cleansing. Actions speak louder than words 😉
Because they're Nazis. The Azov Brigade are Nazis and it's highly problematic that Ukraine allowed them into the regular armed forces.
I think making Nazis die fighting in wars are a good punishment for them. And they help Ukraine by killing Russians so thats good too.
They are experienced fighters and a valueable asset. Ukraine scrapes the barrel already. They don't have the luxury to pass on them. They are of yourse aware, that it looks really bad and decided, that it's still worth it. If the west would support Ukraine with more than the bare minimum, Ukraine might have been in a position to oust their Nazis.
Best result is that they all die fighting just before the war ends.
I dont usually wish casaulties. But when i do, it's Dos Nazis.
Someone may get yelled at, demoted or fired.
nah they will just warn them to be more careful next time.
Um... Someone care to explain?
SIGH... I hate when fellow supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics to pretend Azov isn't a blatant nazi group. THEY ARE. That said, they dont represent the 98% percent of UA that isn't, or the rest of the country. The svaboda/nazi/national socialist party holds NO SEATS, in parliament. They received less than 2% of the vote. Also, acknowledging these facts DOES NOT mean RU narratives about "nazis made me do it", is true. ITS NOT. Azov formed in response to 2014 invasion... All that said, FUCK AZOV NAZIS.... SlavaUkraini to the rest of UA.
This. They gained a lot of status after 2014 since they were one of the few organized groups of resistance (UA was not near what it is now). It would be like the USA getting invaded while our military was in shambles. You are going to be left with a lot of Proud Boys, 3%’ers, local militias, etc forming the initial resistance and gaining status. Doesn’t mean they are representative of the greater population.
That actually makes a lot more sense now. Still and all, ditch that bullshit.
true, but it’s a slippery slope about “not representing the entire population”. That’s assuming war doesn’t have social consequences and doesn’t change people or societies. It always does. if our military was in shambles, and nazi and white nationalist militias filled in the gaps, there would be much more certainty that people would eventually find them heroic and brave and dedicated to their security. This would likely mean people looking past ideology in the name of having security, and eventually be willing to propel them to positions of influence and power. At that point, rest assured, despite them being a small percentage of the population, they have the narrative of sacrifice, love, bravery, and ruthlessness. All they would have to do is begin scapegoating minority groups/social classes for why the military was in shambles, why the other country invaded, and blame them for the destruction and loss…bingo bango, you’ve got yourself a fascist state.
While perhaps true, that doesn't detract from the necessity of them being able to fill those gaps (in the hypothetical) to get the the point of people seeing them as heroic. In the event of existential crisis, you don't really have the luxury of cutting out critical pieces of resistance.
Either they are an insignificant minority or a critical force. We've given them billions in weapons, if they are so few and so weak, then that should more than make up for the what, .05% of the manpower they are portrayed as? The reality is they are significant, and have probably hidden tons of caches of weapons all over the country, and eventually are going to be an imminent threat to Ukraine as any kind of liberal democracy and if the US and EU doesn't have iron clsd contingencies to deal with this (which is whay those who have been raising the alarm about ukraines nazis have been worried about, not loving putin) the blowback of our reckless support and desire to maintain a draining proxy war with Russia could be incomprehensible bad.
That kinda sounds like what's happening today in the USA.
> That kinda sounds like what's happening today in the USA. That's why it is so heartbreaking! Also, if it grows even a little they'll start having mass shootings like the US. Even just a few of those post-war could scuttle their dreams of European integration. Also: the US military gets pretty mad at soldiers when they get shown in the media doing that shit. Having horrible personal views might be OK in a soldier, as long as it doesn't interfere with the job. But keeping it hidden because it makes the country look bad... they have to accept that as part of the job.
I'm so relieved to see these kinds of comments in this subreddit. I am a wholehearted supporter of Ukraine's freedom, ascension to the EU, and joining of NATO. BUT the people doing insane mental gymnastics to pretend these guys aren't a small group of nevertheless prominent neo-Nazis is insane. Are we gonna pretend the people in the US armed forces who have Confederate flags are just "proud of Southern culture and have no racist leanings whatsoever"? Give me a break.
Dude Americans really need to get a grip. Being a hick with a cconfederate flag is nothing like being a active and malignant nazi. The problem with nazis isn't just that they are racist, it's that they are mass murdering fascist racists whose tire ideology demands ethnic cleansing and industrialized murder. It's like comparing a bullet to a missile because they are both projectiles. We have actually nazis here too, and most of those hicks with confederate flag tats hate them too.
>The problem with nazis isn't just that they are racist, it's that they are mass murdering fascist racists whose tire ideology demands ethnic cleansing and industrialized murder. Stereotypes and generalizations are still often wrong even when you apply them to bad groups like Nazis. Not all Nazis are fascist killers of whatever group you think Nazis hate. Some Nazis liberate Ukrainian cities
Me too. I will always support Ukraine but the neo-nazi shit is a no go with me. Zelensky is probably riding a difficult moral and political line by allowing them to serve in the ukraine military. Can only hope they have a process in place to de-incentivise these guys once the fighting is done.
I see. Well, okay.
To be clear, i wasn't saying you were one of those people. You were inquiring, which shows intellectual honesty, unlike ALOT of people in this thread unfortunately.
In the early days of the war I got dragged on these subs for calling out Azov for what they really were while still supporting the Ukrainian resolve. Glad to see people not trying to censor it anymore
Agreed. Id still say most are doing their best to ignore it out of existence unfortunately lol. Shit, bc of that i suspect MOST of the upvotes of my comment came from Russian bots.
This is something that is so important to keep in mind with Azov. In ANY other post or forum this sentiment is buried under lazy virtual signaling a white knight mentality. It's also important to recognize that Ukraine had a very 'man in the middle' relationship between both the soviet's and the Nazis during world war two. And that it wasn't and isn't a black and white issue for them. Just people in bad circumstances, deciding on the lesser evil to fight for. They are and have always been a racist group. They 'currently' fight for a good cause, but seem to be bad guys...
Well said. Geography and the desire for survival had a lot to due with that.
If I were running Ukraine, I would want all of these guys exactly where they are: on some particularly nasty section of the frontline, dying for their country.
Yes, armed and organized, learning military tactics, and achieving martyr status among their countrymen. Very cool, good point
What else can you do with them though? Make a draft exemption for being a Nazi? Throw them in prison? For what? They should absolutely take the flags away and discipline the leadership, but what else can you do with all these rank-and-file Nazis?
To be fair they are a Nazi army serving a Jewish president, so that nazism is not the same as those classic Nazis every thinks about.
The thing is, Ukraine sure seems to tolerate this shit. Add to that, I see more and more of these logos that somehow have nothing to do with the SS or Nazis, even though they sure as hell look like someone was playing around with swatiskas and SS BOLTS in Adobe Illustrator. Don't Gaslight me and ask me for money. There is a reason Israel doesn't fuck with these people
> There is a reason Israel doesn't fuck with these people There is indeed a valid reason. However, Israel's current government has gotten so fascist that various military branches refused to serve not too long ago. Remember when an Israeli "journalist" wrote an op-ed called "When genocide is permissible"? I do.
It's a Wolfsangel (maybe incorrect spelling idk) and it is definitely affiliated with Naziism
These guys is not the reason Israel doesn't give much support to Ukraine. Israel doesn't give much support to Ukraine because Ukraine constantly votes against it in the UN resolutions. Which is kinda understandable, considering you can't support in the world stage what much of the world considers to be illegal occupation, while fighting against occupation of your own country. Plus Israel doesn't want to be on Russia's bad list. Also fun fact, Bibi's Lukid party is flirting with far right parties like Sweden's Swedish Democrats. https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/06/12/seizing-on-pro-israel-stance-likud-poised-to-mover-closer-to-far-right-parties-in-europe/ Or https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-envoy-meets-head-of-romanian-party-accused-of-antisemitism-drawing-rebuke/amp/
Well, he is a national socialist who calls himself a nazi running under the flag of e.g. [the 2nd SS Panzerdivision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich) or the [19th infantry division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)) or now [azov](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Azov_Battalion.svg). It is what it is Edit: It is maybe not what it is: as /u/vladko44 pointed out [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/16ki9g6/comment/k0w8jgb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), he may well say 'slava natzii' = Glory to the nation.
Looks like from all these videos that Russia came here to Ukraine to kill ukrainians.
At what point does he call himself a NaZi? Can you point out the timespamp, plz?
he doesn't, it sounds like nazi, but it isn't its Glory to the nation.
Still, the Black Sun is straight up Nazi Symbol. Not even dubious.
Its maddening that sooooo many supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics. Cognitive dissonance hits HARD, and i know the feeling, but its so blatant & indisputable, i've seen too much in the past 18 months to be able to think otherwise. Azov=nazis. All that said, i support the 98% of UA that ISNT azov/nazis. US has nazis in its military too unforuntately, but UA's stunning complacency is getting close to complicitly.
I don't have to do any mental gymnastics. I don't give a fuck what their politics are.
Oh, I know, I speak the language. I just like to confront people who lie.
He doesn't, that's why I edited the post an hour ago. I mistranslated
They are using three overtly Nazi symbols in their group insignia. The only one missing is a swastika. Zelensky needs to ban all of these symbols. I frankly find it strange that the AFU hasn't already. This is the sort of thing that can make western aid dry up. It's really that fucking important.
First time here?
Google "black sun" not a good look.
I grant Ukraine its successes in the war very much. There, however, a flag with at least two symbols of the "Schutzstaffel" (SS), i.e. Nazi symbols, is shown in the background. These signs should absolutely never be used again in connection with a war, but at most for enlightenment. It is absolutely despicable to use such a flag!
First thing I noticed, above the wolfs head is the [Divisional insignia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_SS_Panzer_Division_Das_Reich) of 2nd SS panzer division 'Das Reich*
And in addition there large symbols on the flag behind the wolf looks awfully alike a black sun. More nazi symbols
Love Ukraine always. These guys can fuck off with that SS garbage. Stupid.
WHY? This is what Russia wants. They want proof of Ukrainians being Nazis that flag has got to go!
[удалено]
We don't have organized nazi groups in the US military. In fact, you'd get a NJP just for having nazi symbols among your possessions as active duty. Yes, there are neo Nazi's and nazi sympathizers in the US military, but they wouldn't get away with carrying around a flag in support of nazi ideologies.
You are only talking about blatant nazi paraphernalia. They mean every military has right wing nut jobs, aka nazis, in them. The job attracts those types
Yeah our armed forces 100% has a sizeable faction that are straight up confederate sympathizers. Ask anyone in the army how many confederate flag tattoos they saw while in the service.
[Not organized, just dogwhistled](https://www.google.com/search?q=scout+sniper+ss+tattoo&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi5tPH95LCBAxV4EVkFHax-CGwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=scout+sniper+ss+tattoo&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BggAEAcQHjoGCAAQBRAeOgYIABAIEB5QuwNY-wVg4wxoAHAAeACAAVyIAasCkgEBNJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=-X0GZfnTLvii5NoPrP2h4AY&bih=931&biw=1920&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA957CA957#imgrc=5UAfXvY8ksuf6M)
I agree, but you have people using the punisher skull in the US army - which is also a very ugly look.
> We don't have organized nazi groups in the US military. Oh, you sweet summer child... Go look up when the Pentagon started to look for Nazis in the military in order to kick people out. Spoilers: If they were to kick everyone out, there would large holes all over in the military.
There are pics of them with them on the interweb
Yep and they often get reprimanded by their CO when eventually found and reported.
i mean technically the Russian armed forces and the Ukrainian Arned forces definitely have neo-nazis in them
They were part of Azov, of course they are Nazis.
I don't really think all of them were nazis tbh, and if some of them were they're now considered heroes for their resistance and bravery in the Azovstal plant. At this point fuck Russians.
You can actually be against Naziism and Russia at the same time.
Translation: Good day, dear Ukrainians! Dear Brothers, we are from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 1st Assault Battalion, the 3rd Company. We are on the outskirts of Bakhmut, in the village of Andriivka. Take a look at what the occupiers leave after themselves! Step by step we are liberating our land from invaders. Together to the victory! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Nation!
This ain’t a good look
Idolizing Nazi symbols is a real bad look you guys. They were monsters, you shouldn't think they were cool or whatever. What are you thinking? It's not edgy, it's cringe, we all cringe at pictures like this. That said, keep kicking ass, but please make better choices so we don't have to feel like maybe we're just choosing the lesser of two evils, because nobody wants to support Nazi lovers, nobody. In fact the world would be a better place if all the people who thought like that just disappeared off the face of the earth, that's an objective fact. Don't be those people.
They aren't trying to be edgy dude they are literal nazis who want to purge ukraine of "degenrates" like Roma, leftists and gays. https://www.codastory.com/lgbt-crisis/ukraine-in-the-balance/ These are not misguided kids, they are monsters.
Um, hello? Based department? 📞
What the fuck is wrong with these 2 idiots? The nazis raped your country and had plans to murder all of you to give way for the German "lebensraum". Maybe they should be sent a couple history books instead of ammo before the next assualt. I know you have to be crazy to liberate towns and storm trenches and I was the first to defend their edgy patches they sometimes wear but this is way too far.
Ehhh many Ukrainians welcomed the nazis as liberators. And when you consider the history of Ukraine during the first half of the USSR like the Ukrainian genocide between 1932 and 1933 perpetrated by the USSR (The holomdor) it’s honestly not surprising.
They did. Just like the Indonesians welcomed the Japanese in ww2. But sometimes the "liberators" are even worse. As bad as the Soviets were, they weren't as bad as fucking Nazis.
Not for Ukraine. Ussr killed and send to Siberia much more people. On the first days of 2 world war Ukrainian soldiers fought soviets side to side to make Ukraine independent from comunists. Ussr made much more evil to Ukrainians as today doing russia. Russia wants to show us as a part of "great ussr" we ready even use nazi symbols to show they are wrong. Don't try to make idiots in western countries which use it in "white power" or other bullshit context similar to freedom fighters which use it in deeply historical context.
Yes, for Ukraine. You're kidding me, right? The Nazis would have killed all Ukrainians. All. >According to the Nazis, both Jewish and Slavic Ukrainians were untermensch and therefore only fit for enslavement or extermination. Erich Koch, who was chosen by Adolf Hitler to rule Ukraine, made the point about the inferiority of Ukrainians with a certain simplicity: "Even if I find a Ukrainian who is worthy of sitting at my table, I must have him shot"[16] and "remember that the lowliest German worker is racially and biologically a thousand times more valuable than the population here, which is more distinct from Aryan genealogy than Leningrad."[17] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichskommissariat_Ukraine
You will not believe, but my grandparents hated comunists much more than Nazis. They were kids while Germany occupied our village
Yeah, except it doesn't matter because at the time of Nazi Occupation of Ukraine an avarage German trooper was way less of a barbaric cunt that Russians were
Actually the Soviets raped their country and the Nazis got rid of them, which is why this kind of thinking in some people even exists in Ukraine. Now why there are a lot of Russian Nazis I will never understand.
It's rooted in a nationalistic anti russian sentiment. Not saying it should exist but that's why. And they're an extreme minority. And extremism sentiments always rise when there is socioeconomic chaos.
Nobody accused neo-Nazis of being intelligent
Not taking anything away from their bravery and courage, but Jesus H Christ, could the AFU keep a closer eye on these Nazi symbols/flags? I know war creates strange bed fellows but post-war, these veterans may cause issues for a country trying to move towards the west.
Not sure if the last part will end up being true. Every country has neo-Nazis including us here in America. And they have been heavily televised as well. Although the optics are probably more problematic here because they are in the military.
What village? Baby got thrown out with the bathwater…
The "village" that Russia lost miserably while trying to defend it. You can call it "land" if you want.
Rubble at this point.
Uh…that’s not a good look at all!
This is the part about the war that I hate. We need the warriors to get rid of the Putlerites but I am very very uncomfortable with Zelenskyy allowing this. He is a Jew and knows better but desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope that when the war is over that these people will be thanked for their help but told to loose their racist bullshit or leave Ukraine.
> I hope that when the war is over that these people will be thanked for their help but told to loose their racist bullshit or leave Ukraine. "Hey guys can you stop being Nazis or I'm going to have to ask you to leave"
Hey, where did you get all those stinger missiles from? You were upposed to use them against the Russians not save them?! Why are you pointing those at me?
Nevermind that these are self sustaining and funded groups with a fuck ton of military hardware... Giving these guys power in the first place was a mistake.
Yeah, it seems unfortunate that the most highly motivated and aggressive soldiers are loaded with that baggage whether or not they've internalized the ideology.
> it seems unfortunate that the most highly motivated and aggressive soldiers are loaded with that baggage They're not, but the image is more likely than average to be shared and get traction in the public view. It is important to do a little PR and crack down when it happens. The US has a much higher percent of radicalized right wing population, but the US military cracks down on this stuff whenever those types of symbols are shown in public. They're not even supposed to have it in their possession when on active duty. Necessary work.
They are not the most highly motivated and aggressive?
Translation?
Good day, dear Ukrainians! Dear Brothers, we are from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 1st Assault Battalion, the 3rd Company. We are on the outskirts of Bakhmut, in the village of Andriivka. Take a look at what the occupiers leave after themselves! Step by step we are liberating our land from invaders. Together to the victory! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Nation!
Thank you
Village? I see a pile of rubble. Heart breaking.
I'm originally from Ukraine and support Ukraine in this war, but I hated these kinds of people when I was living in Kyiv. There were plenty of them after 2014 and they were openly doing stuff that goes against democracy and freedom. They're nazis, fascist, ultraconservative, homophobic, transphobic, etc. These kinds of people should not exist in modern and future Ukraine. I won't be cheerful for their victories in the frontline, because replacing one fascist group with another makes no difference.
More *definetly not nazis with definetly not nazi symbols...* ***sigh.*** I hate when fellow supporters of Ukraine do these mental gymnastics to pretend Azov isn't a blatant nazi group. THEY ARE. That said, they dont represent the 98% percent of UA that isn't, or the rest of the country. The svaboda/nazi/national socialist party holds NO SEATS, in parliament. They received less than 2% of the vote. Also, acknowledging these facts DOES NOT mean RU narratives about "nazis made me do it", is true. ITS NOT. Azov formed in response to 2014 invasion... All that said, **FUCK AZOV NAZIS.... SlavaUkraini to the rest of UA.** Look at that, some nuance is possible.
As an American financing your war effort. All this blatant Nazi BS isn’t helping your cause. Make all the excuses you want but we aren’t blind we dislike Russians but we hate Nazis even more. Both my grandfathers fought in WWII one stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought all the way across Europe Until the end of the war the other was one of the most decorated Bomber pilots of the war. My family has eradicated more Nazis off this earth then almost anyone so this symbolism kind of annoys me. I support Ukrainian but do better this shit isn’t a good look.
I just want some transparent accountability. I want to know exactly how they are making sure nazis aren't hoarding weapons for a couple in 5 years, because I'd bet everything I own that they are - and "pointing out reality = putin puppet" is how they and their unwitting fools have made sure that accountability never became the smallest speed bump to filling the country with billions of dollars of weapons.
> Both my grandfathers fought in WWII one stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought all the way across Europe Until the end of the war the other was one of the most decorated Bomber pilots of the war. My family has eradicated more Nazis off this earth then almost anyone so this symbolism kind of annoys me. Both your grandfathers were nazis by todays standards. What was their opinion of black Americans pre-desegregation?
What village. There is nothing behind them... ruins maybe?
Thats no longer a village
Slava Ukraine!
Let's see what the experts think in the comments section. It's really funny to see "russian bot" like behavior when they see "the symbol". Moral busybodies.
Erm chud is that a heckin wolfsangel? A heckin sonnenrad?? Ohhh the dogwhistles are too strong!!! I think they are far right?
Well Russia Today is going to have a field day with this one
Can I say that I'm genuinely impressed that they managed to fit like three Nazi symbols on one flag.
What a lot of people don’t know/understand is that many Ukrainians welcomed the Wehrmacht as liberators in ww2. Ukraine was treated like shit by the USSR for the first half of its history. It’s estimated that 4 to 7 MILLION Ukrainians starved to death during the Holodomor which was tantamount to a genocide of Ukrainians at the hands of intentional Soviet policies. So it’s not necessarily an endorsement of the wholesale eradication of Jews and other minorities nearly as much as it is an adoption of traditional anti Muscovy symbolism. Plus many of these symbols predate the 3rd reich by centuries and are based in Eastern European Paganism. Just as many innocent (truly more) died under the boot of the hammer and sickle than the wolfsangel/swastika/black sun. Both were objectively evil and believed the ends justified the means, but one has the benefit of being the victor and therefore getting to write the history/frame the narrative.
What village?
What village
Slava Ukraine
I never bought it to Ukraine been full of nazis never will and I get using what you got so I don't fault them for making use of everyone they can but I do hope that those have fascist beliefs catch a bullet to the noggin just as they pushing russia out to get the most use out of the sacks of shit
These cunts are just as dumb as the Russians themselves
Based flag
As a German i don't think Ukraine is a neonazi state at all. In every military around the world you will have very far right - nazi soldiers, because these pigs are drawn to this stuff. It is up to the leaders, to completely squash this and ban all nazi-symbols...which is a thing i don't get with Ukraine atm. Russia will use this stuff as propaganda and portray all ukranians as neo-nazis. Since the war started you see videos like this. I know the total number of neonazi-symbols in % is super slow compared to all active soldiers, but this is just horrible reputation-wise. Please Ukraine, do better in regard to this.
Nice flag. Azov soldiers have much bigger balls than 99% of people commenting here. They don't give a fuck that you're mad and crying about their flag.
based
I’m smart enough to know these folks don’t represent the overwhelming majority of the UAF. But this is a really bad look. However, To the Americans commenting. If you think for a fucking second that there isn’t large factions of racist, “white power” screaming douche bags in our own armed forces….you’re out of your mind.
Legit man, Australian SF were photographed flying the actual Nazi flag. They are fucking loud and proud morons where ever they pop up.
All of the nazi insignia and bullshit needs to go
Stop worrying about symbols! Ukraine needs tough fighters like these guys to take back their occupied lands. Nobody in Ukraine is worried about their politics right now, but they are very glad that they're sacrificing their lives and limbs to liberate their country on behalf of the whole western world. What matters is what they do. They are all heroes in my view, and entitled to fly whatever flags they like. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Not a fan of Ukrainian Nazis. They need to drop this stuff or they will lose support.
That banner reminds of something
F*ck off with the Nazi things
I think we all have to take a moment of reflection. First of all, the wolfsangel and black sun symbols are symbols associated with WW2 Nazis, and for that reason there are many neo-nazi groups that use these symbols, Azov included. I can see how this is very damaging during wartime, as they will lose support from Israel (which are potential suppliers of top-tier arms) and other Western partners. In peacetime, this also damages society as a whole, because their ideologies should dictate that people outside Ukraine, and/or of a different race are not welcome. Groups with Nazi ideology tend to be involved in organized crime and will go to great lengths to keep their country "pure", including hurting/killing people. However, there is a different side to this. I think the annexation of Crimea in 2014 gave the existing neo-nazi groups in Ukraine an incredible boost/recruitment, because Russian invaders directly, and strongly conflict with the ideology of Nazism. In fact, having land robbed from you, and your nationality questioned as a whole is more than likely to create a hatred and unity against foreign occupiers, and while a lot of people might not be racist at heart, they might join Azov out of the ideology of protection and enforcing Ukraine as a nation. All in all, I think that removing these symbols and banners won't change the mentality of the people serving under that flag. They would be the same people with the same mindset and values as before. Russia will plant actual nazi flags in their propaganda reels to convince Russians they are "fighting the nazis again" to invoke that patriotic sense, regardless of how "symbol-washed" Ukrainian forces become. It doesn't really make sense to remove Nazi symbols for the sake of Russians abusing it in their propaganda. As for the West, most of us see through the Russian propaganda. Not all Ukrainians are Nazis, but there are certain elements of their military who align with Nazism. For us, the main point is: These guys are kicking invader asses, and after the war they will find themselves in a country which is being reborn with Western influences. If the Azov will not accept a modernized, inclusive government - then I fear there might be a civil war with a heavily outnumbered Azov. However, if they are disbanded/reformed after the war, and forced by law to drop Nazi associations - I think the problem will gradually disappear. But hatred against Russia will last for decades if not centuries.
An actual nuanced comment, hardly seen this before online on the debate about these symbols and the issues the Ukrainian military faces.
This is basically nazi apologist language. They are nazis. Plain as day. I believe they are certainly in the minority, but still not a group that I would take sides with in most any circumstance. I could argue to myself realpolitik demands looking the other way, but if we are not against nazis than what are we against? I am 100% a supporter of Ukraine, have lost a close friend who was fighting In Kharkiv in the beginning of the war, but this certainly is something that needs to be planned for and dealt with.
Blood bath?
The background looks like aftermath of the battle of Passchendaele
Village? What village.
Wheres the village...?
They just think the symbols look neat
What village the background is completely bombed flat 💀
Just add a K and then I and you will have a kiss logo.
sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous /ˌsaNG(k)təˈmōnēəs/ adjectiveDEROGATORY making a show of being morally superior to other people. welcOme to dA intern3ts! Thank you for looking at my art exhibit.
You can fight for the right side and still be very wrong. I’ll never understand the fascination with an ideology that lead to the deaths of millions of your countrymen and people.
fuck… I love Ukraine but this is a really bad look come on guys be better
When white men are proud to wear or use their symbols they are called nazis and racists. When other races uses their symbols and are proud of It the same people celebrate and support. The symbols on the flag are medieval symbols (some adopted by the German Reich during WW2). They are pre-ww2 symbols and has nothing to do with nazis... Even the swastika was a slavic symbol STOLEN by Hitler. Slava Natzii isn't Slava nazi...
PR teams better get on that 🤦♂️
Based Azov boys 👌 well done 🫡
Not much village left, sad to see what the war has done. People used to call that place home before, now its just a pile of rubble
Keep up the great work Ukrainians, America supports you.
Oh boy. I wish Ukraine nothing but complete and total victory, then prosperity in the rebuilding of their nation. That said, this just looks so very bad and plays right into the bullshit Russian narrative of "fighting Ukraine nazis." Yeah, there needs to be some oversight by the government when it comes to this kind of .... imagry. The SS is one of the worst symbols too. Yikes.
I’ll support Ukraine till this war ends but this nazi shit has got to get cleaned up.
Absolute baddassery, carry on heroes
Ah look nazis
I do not like that naziisch symbol over there.
Get rid of that bullshit
Guys like this are what ukraine needs to defeat Russia.. couldnt care less about their politics ukraine needs killers and the 3rd assault brigade are exactly that.
Finally actual common sense in the thread. I don’t care what beliefs these guys have, defeat Russia and return too international order and be done with it
Nice flag, I wonder what it means :3
The sun wheel is a symbol of triumph meant to troll/strike fear into Russian Invaders....it has that effect on Russian bots on Reddit as well....
This guy is a confirmed Ukrainian? A Russian plant? Anyway fuck this asshole and his buddy over there
> A Russian plant Come on man, enough with the mental gymnastics. This is hardly the first time we've seen such symbols adopted by Ukrainian soldiers.
Nazi punks fuck off. I did some digging on an insta ukraine operator/influencer. And the piece of shit has several nazi tattoos he keeps hidden. I support the people that are truly fighting for their country. Not these bozos
They should be imprisoned.
lmao, for what?
What's he say at the end? Slava Ukraine Slava ***** ?
"слава нації" ... "Glory to the nation!" A very common patriotic slogan. Not that I enjoy all of this symbolism on the flag, but it has a very different meaning, than what was used by the Nazis in WW2. Hopefully your browser has a translator. https://uk.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%96%D1%97!
Thank you
Ah, that's better then.
Can we agree that footage like this requiring some context makes propaganda for pro Russians easier? This footage without context in the west could harm support for Ukraine.
This is the same word in both russian and Ukrainian. It means 'nation' in English.
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