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LIST OF MYTHS


AZOV CONTRA

Russian propaganda has a strong influence around the world, and unfortunately,
the United States is no exception. For Washington, Russian propaganda has long
been a domestic security issue. With large financial capital, Moscow spreads
pro-Russian narratives through fake news, bribing journalists and opinion
leaders, its own English-language media, bots and fake public profiles on social
media, and many other hybrid forms of propaganda.


FAKE


AZOV CONTRA FAKE

Russian propaganda has a strong influence around the world, and unfortunately,
the United States is no exception. For Washington, Russian propaganda has long
been a domestic security issue. With large financial capital, Moscow spreads
pro-Russian narratives through fake news, bribing journalists and opinion
leaders, its own English-language media, bots and fake public profiles on social
media, and many other hybrid forms of propaganda.

For example, in 2023 CNN stated that based on US intelligence reports, the FSB
systemically communicates anti-Ukrainian and favorable to the Kremlin agenda
through private relationships between Russian agents and high-ranking
influential US officials. In 2016, the Americans accused the Russian government
of interfering with the US presidential election.

 

The Russians also actively use bots, social media groups, public profiles and
ads (especially on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to throw in controversial
claims that divide the American public. This has been repeatedly reported in the
US media. Bots and fake accounts publish provocative comments and posts on
social and political issues without any specific viewpoint. Some bots, for
example, may be in favor of one stance, while others may support a different
one. The topics covered by the Russian bots and public profiles mainly concern
LGBT, racial issues, immigration, and gun rights. In addition to dividing the
American public and creating additional tension around certain topics and
issues, these accounts can be used to directly manipulate public opinions and
influence the election results. Thus, the owners of these fake accounts can
publish certain posts and then, by monitoring interactions such as likes,
comments, or simply views, collect information about the real U.S. Facebook
users and potential voters. This information can then be used to create
databases for targeted advertising, resulting in those particular social media
users seeing ads close to their political preferences. Interactions with such
posts have previously been estimated in millions of reactions, comments and
likes.



In the United States, Russian propaganda about Ukraine has dramatically
increased after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The
Russian lobby in the US promotes the idea that Russia cannot be defeated, and
that for the sake of peace it is necessary to return to negotiations, while the
cost of this war is too high for US citizens.

 

In this context, the Ukrainian army, which is deterring Russian aggression and
liberating Ukrainian territories from occupation, has become a particular target
of Russian manipulations.


HERE IS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN MYTHS ABOUT AZOV AND A DETAILED
RATIONALE THAT DEBUNKS THEM.

One of the primary goals of the full-scale war, as declared by Russian President
Putin, is the so-called “denazification” of Ukraine. He claimed that neo-Nazis
had taken over power in Ukraine — a narrative quickly adopted by the Russian
propaganda machine. This narrative was chosen for specific reasons:

→ The term “denazification” evokes the USSR’s role in defeating Nazism during
World War II, creating a sense of historical righteousness for Russia in its war
against Ukraine.

→ Russia uses this narrative to demonise the Ukrainian government and armed
forces, mobilise its population internally, and reduce support for Ukraine in
Western societies.

→ “Denazification” serves as a pretext for military intervention, presented as
morally necessary.

→ Russia exploits the complex history of Ukrainian nationalist movements during
World War II, which fought against Soviet power for Ukraine’s independence from
the USSR.



Due to the high motivation and professional training of Azov fighters, the unit
became the main target of Russian propaganda.

 

The Azov Battalion was founded in 2014 as a response to the military invasion of
eastern Ukraine by the Russian forces. This volunteer unit accepted into its
ranks anyone who was willing and able to defend Ukrainians and the territorial
integrity of Ukraine. In October 2014, Andrii Biletskyi, a controversial figure
and the first commander of Azov, left the unit and engaged in political
activity. Since then, Azov has been actively developing, cleansing itself of
subcultural elements and introducing professional NATO standards in the training
of its fighters.

For 8 years Azov fought in the east of Ukraine, taking part in the defensive and
offensive actions. In 2022, the Azov troops selflessly defended Mariupol, which
was surrounded by Russian troops, despite the enemy's advantage in manpower and
military equipment. After the Ukrainian General Staff ordered them to lay down
their arms, the entire Mariupol garrison, including Azov, went into Russian
captivity.   

MYTH 1:

Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views



MYTH 2:

Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views



MYTH 3:

Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking
civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions



MYTH 4:

The symbol of the Azov Brigade has neo-Nazi implications



MYTH 5:

Neo-Nazis serve in Azov



MYTH 6:

Azov fighters get tattoos with runes because they are Nazis



MYTH 7:

Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world



MYTH 8:

Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war



MYTH 9:

Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of
Ukraine




MYTH 1: 

Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views

MYTH 2: 

Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views




MYTH 3: 

Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking
civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions



MYTH 4: 

The symbol of the Azov Brigade has neo-Nazi implications

MYTH 5: 

Neo-Nazis serve in Azov

MYTH 6: 

Azov fighters get tattoos with runes because they are Nazis

MYTH 7: 

Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world

MYTH 8: 

Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war

MYTH 9: 

Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of
Ukraine









Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views

MYTH 1: 





Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views

MYTH 2: 



MYTH 9: 



Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of
Ukraine

MYTH 8: 



Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war

MYTH 7: 



Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world

MYTH 6: 



Azov fighters get tattoos with runes because they are Nazis

MYTH 5: 



Neo-Nazis serve in Azov

MYTH 4: 



The symbol of the Azov Brigade has neo-Nazi implications

MYTH 3: 



Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking
civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions









MYTH 1: 

Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views

MYTH 2: 

Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views




MYTH 3: 

Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking
civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions



MYTH 4: 

The symbol of the Azov Brigade has neo-Nazi implications

MYTH 5: 

Neo-Nazis serve in Azov

MYTH 6: 

Azov fighters get tattoos with runes because they are Nazis

MYTH 7: 

Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world

MYTH 8: 

Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war

MYTH 9: 

Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of
Ukraine









Azov Brigade fighters share xenophobic, racist and sexist views

MYTH 1: 





Azov Brigade fighters have anti-Semitic views

MYTH 2: 



MYTH 9: 



Azov is a paramilitary entity beyond the control of the central government of
Ukraine

MYTH 8: 



Azov soldiers committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war

MYTH 7: 



Azov is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Western world

MYTH 6: 



Azov fighters get tattoos with runes because they are Nazis

MYTH 5: 



Neo-Nazis serve in Azov

MYTH 4: 



The symbol of the Azov Brigade has neo-Nazi implications

MYTH 3: 



Since 2014, fighters of the Azov Brigade have been persecuting russian-speaking
civilians in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions








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