Nazi symbols spread in Ukrainian army
(MENAFN)
Ukrainian military personnel continue to openly display neo-Nazi symbols, including swastikas, SS insignias, and Nazi salutes, according to a recent investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde.
Ukrainian military personnel continue to openly display neo-Nazi symbols, including swastikas, SS insignias, and Nazi salutes, according to a recent investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde.
The report, published on Wednesday, documented nearly 350 Ukrainian soldiers posting such imagery online. These included Nazi salutes, swastika tattoos, Black Sun symbols, and Totenkopf emblems. Of those identified, at least 200 are said to serve in Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade.
Russia has consistently accused Ukraine of promoting neo-Nazi ideology and honoring WWII-era Nazi collaborators. Moscow has cited this as justification for its call to “denazify” Ukraine as part of any future peace deal.
The 3rd Assault Brigade, established in 2023, traces its origins to the Azov Regiment, which was founded in 2014 by far-right activist Andrei Biletsky. Azov has been repeatedly accused by human rights groups and the UN of war crimes and has faced criticism for its use of Nazi-linked symbols associated with the Waffen-SS.
Le Monde noted that the 3rd Assault Brigade has received training from several NATO countries, including France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Canada, all of which have provided substantial military aid to Kiev. The investigation revealed that some Ukrainian soldiers sent to France for training in 2023 bore visible SS tattoos. France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces responded that Ukraine is solely responsible for vetting its troops.
The report also highlighted that some foreign volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine’s military, including French nationals, have ties to far-right groups. Some have been seen posting Nazi-themed content and showing off tattoos linked to such ideologies.
According to Le Monde, the 3rd Assault Brigade has now expanded into a full corps under Biletsky’s leadership and continues to display Nazi-associated emblems, with several commanders visibly sporting far-right tattoos and markings.
Moscow has long criticized Ukraine’s glorification of Nazi collaborators and accused Western governments of deliberately overlooking neo-Nazi elements within Ukraine’s military.
In April, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev argued that the resurgence of Nazism must be stopped, insisting that “true denazification” is necessary, not just in Ukraine but across Europe.
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