US lifts ban on sending weapons to Ukraine’s Azov brigade

The United States has lifted a ban on sending weapons and training to the Ukrainian Azov brigade, which played a vital role in the defense of the port city of Mariupol, but had a controversial past.

The ban, called the “Leahy Law,” prohibits any military assistance or training to be provided to foreign units held responsible for human rights violations, CNN reports, citing the US State Department.

The battalion, named the 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade, was integrated into the Ukrainian National Guard in 2023, after the initial formation dissolved. The unit has been praised for its role in the fight against Russian occupation in the Mariupol area.

The unit welcomed the lifting of the ban on receiving security assistance from the US, saying in a statement Tuesday, “This is a new page in the history of our unit.”

“Eligibility for US assistance will not only increase Azov’s combat effectiveness, but, most importantly, will help save the lives and health of the brigade’s personnel,” the unit said. “Azov is becoming more professional and more effective in defending Ukraine against the invaders.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the US decision on Tuesday, saying the US is “ready even to flirt with neo-Nazis,” according to Russian state news agency TASS.