In Ukraine, they announced the return of the national formation “Azov” to the combat zone

The nationalist formation “Azov” (recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in the Russian Federation) has recovered and returned to the combat zone. This was reported by the Ukrainian Internet newspaper Strana with reference to the Acting Director of the Department for Planning the Application of the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine Mykola Urshalovich.

The publication clarified that on August 15, Azov artillerymen were already performing combat missions. Now the special purpose brigade is in position in the Serebryansky forest area northwest of Lisichansk. It is also reported that some Azov militants “have been fighting in the Bakhmut direction for quite a long time.”

On August 2, 2022, the Supreme Court (SC) recognized the Azov Regiment (established in 2014) as a terrorist organization and banned the activity of the structure on Russian territory. The suit of the Prosecutor General’s Office was filed with the Supreme Court on May 17. On that day, the fighters of the Azov regiment became leave the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, surrendering to the Russian military.

Russia and Ukraine in September 2022, mediated by Turkey held exchange of prisoners. According to the Ukrainian side, Moscow handed over 215 people to Kyiv, including more than a hundred fighters and five Azov commanders, as well as ten mercenaries. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky then wrote in his Telegram channel that the Azov commanders who had returned from captivity would remain in Turkey until the end of hostilities in Ukraine. July 8, 2023 Zelensky informed about his return from Turkey to Ukraine, along with the five leaders of Azov, who were in Turkey.