US lifts ban on arms supply to Ukrainian Azov regiment
The administration of US President Joe Biden has authorized the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine to use American weapons.
This lifted the ban imposed about ten years ago.
This was reported by The Washington Post with reference to the US State Department.
The brigade will now have access to U.S. military assistance like any other unit of the Defense Forces.
In addition to U.S. weapons and equipment, the brigade will be able to participate in exercises organized by the United States.
The decision was made after the State Department reviewed the Azov Brigade for compliance with the criteria of the Leahy Act, which prohibits the provision of U.S. military assistance to foreign units that have committed human rights crimes.
In its statement, the State Department said it had found no evidence of such violations by the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard.
A State Department spokesperson refused to say when the ban was lifted. It is also unknown whether Azov has already received American weapons.
The press service of the brigade said that this was the result of long and hard work that Azov soldiers systematically conducted against Russian propaganda.
They noted that receiving Western weapons and training from the United States would not only increase Azov’s combat capability, but also help save the lives and health of the brigade’s personnel.
“This is a new page in the history of our unit. “Azov is becoming even more powerful, more professional and even more dangerous for the occupiers,” the NGU brigade emphasized.
In April, Azov commander Denys Prokopenko called on the United States to lift the ban on weapons for the brigade. At the time, the colonel noted that the Leahy Act was applied to Azov without any evidence, based on the characterization of Western media that had formed their attitude under the influence of Russian propaganda.
