The State Department announced on Tuesday that a Ukrainian military formation with a history of identifying with World War II-era Nazi units will be allowed to receive U.S. military aid.
The Azov Brigade, also known as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, was under investigation by the Biden administration for violations of the Leahy Law, which prohibits American lethal assistance to foreign organizations that are found to be in non-compliance with U.S. humanitarian standards.
The report found that there was “no evidence” of deviations from U.S. regulations regarding the controversial detachment, despite the group being sanctioned by Washington in 2015, 2018, and 2023 for alleged human rights violations and their extremist associations.
The unit has faced criticism for incorporating Nazi iconography in their public displays, and several prominent members have previously praised the actions of Holocaust perpetrators.
