International reporting

War in Ukraine: in Dnipro, the Azov regiment is emulated

Audio 02:24

Parade of men of the Azov regiment during Ukrainian Volunteer Day in kyiv, Ukraine, March 14, 2020. (Illustrative image) AP - Efrem Lukatsky

By: Oriane Verdier Follow |

Aabla Jounaïdi Follow

3 mins

At the Azovstal factory in Mariupol, between a few evacuations of civilians, only a handful of Ukrainian fighters still face Russian forces.

Among them, the Azov regiment, a formation whose neo-Nazi origin does not prevent it from enjoying a certain aura, increased tenfold by the Russian offensive.

Illustration in Dnipro in a Territorial Defense unit set up by a member of the Azov regiment.

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At the top of a small hill in the vicinity of Dnipro, trenches have been dug into the earth.

In this region, 90 years ago, a famine orchestrated by Stalin left countless dead.

This memory haunts memories and speeches.

Serhiy Tischenko, 36, commander of the unit, joined the “

Right Sector 

”, an ultranationalist political party in 2014 before naturally slipping into the Azov regiment, which is an offshoot of it.

“ 

It was from 2017 that I joined Azov because I had a lot of friends who were part of it. 

»

On the arms of these men, the emblem of the regiment on a yellow and blue background, colors of Ukraine, a crampon inspired by the second Nazi division Das Reich.

Despite the smell of sulfur emanating from it, the unit commander assures us: Russian propaganda has failed in its operation to demonize the Azov regiment.

"

It has always been like this.

All of the adversary's propaganda talk focuses on Azov.

They tried to destroy us.

That was before.

Now, we speak well of this regiment, because it has shown results in the field,

explains

Serhiy Tischenko

.

I'm glad that in the end, Western countries have changed their outlook on Azov in particular and on the Ukrainian army in general. 

»

The regiment attracts young recruits

In 2014, while on the front line against pro-Russian separatists in the East and in Mariupol on the Sea of ​​Azov, hence its name, the regiment was integrated into the armed forces.

Enough to attract young recruits.

Like 18-year-old Nazar, a helmet that is too large and eyes that are no longer those of a child.

"

For me, it was very important to join this unit.

It is a serious structure which has a good reputation.

It's a big responsibility and I do everything to best fulfill my missions in order to maintain this reputation,

he says

.

I see it from inside.

And I don't see any Nazis among my comrades.

I see great patriots and nationalists.

Ready to sacrifice their lives to save the country. 

»

In the unleashing of the war, this nationalist discourse gained strength.

Forgot the neo-Nazi ancestry of the Azov regiment.

From the top of his hill, the young Nazar and his comrades watch only one thing: the advance of the Russian troops.

© RFI

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