{"id":1433317,"date":"2022-04-12T13:31:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1433317"},"modified":"2022-04-12T13:32:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:32:09","slug":"ukraines-neo-nazi-azov-fighters-accuse-russia-of-chemical-weapons-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ukraines-neo-nazi-azov-fighters-accuse-russia-of-chemical-weapons-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine&#039;s Neo-Nazi Azov Fighters Accuse Russia of Chemical Weapons Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fukraines-neo-nazi-azov-fighters-accuse-russia-of-chemical-weapons-attack%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1433317&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">The founder of the Azov Regiment, a neo-Nazi militia formally integrated into the armed forces of Ukraine, accused Russia on Monday of using chemical weapons in Mariupol, a southern port city now the focal point of the war between the two countries.<\/p>\n<p>Andriy Biletsky \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/europe\/ukraine-azov-battalion-mariupol-neo-nazis-b2043022.html\">described<\/a> as \u201ca white supremacist former football [soccer] hooligan\u201d who founded and now leads the explicitly neo-Nazi fighters \u2013 accused Russia of dropping \u201cwarfare chemicals\u201d on fighters in Mariupol but failing to do significant damage, reportedly injuring three people.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>If true, the allegations present a major escalation in the eight-year-old war between Ukraine and Russian fighters, a war that began in 2014 against pro-Russian proxy forces in the eastern Donbas region but escalated nationwide in February. At the time, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced that he would initiate a \u201cspecial operation\u201d to \u201cde-Nazify\u201d Ukraine in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2022\/02\/21\/ukraine-completely-created-russia-putin-recognizes-sovereignty-pro-russian-separatists\/\">speech<\/a> in which he denied that the country had any \u201ctradition\u201d of statehood and its existence was the result of a mistake by Vladimir Lenin.<\/p>\n<p>A senior British official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/russian-chemical-weapons-ukraine-james-heappey-nato-1697167\">said<\/a> on Tuesday that, should the country receive proof that Russia used chemical weapons in Mariupol, \u201call possible options are on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Ukrainian state media outlet Ukrinform reported on Monday, citing a post by Azov fighters on the social media application Telegram, that fighters in Mariupol had experienced illness as a product of exposure to unknown \u201cpoison.\u201d Mariupol is located in Donetsk, one of two regions in Donbas.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Russia has recognized its proxy fighters in Donetsk as the leaders of a sovereign state, the \u201cDonetsk People\u2019s Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20626040\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-614693588.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-20626040\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-614693588-1024x698-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"675\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>File\/Members of \u201cAzov\u201d civil corps and veterans of \u201cAzov\u201d regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine and volunteers march with torches to celebrate the Defender of Ukraine Day and the creation of the paramilitary partisan movement Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). (GENYA SAVILOV\/AFP via Getty)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAbout an hour ago, the Russian occupation forces used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against the Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol, which was dropped from an enemy UAV,\u201d Ukrinform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukrinform.net\/rubric-ato\/3455074-russian-invaders-used-poisonous-substance-in-mariupol-azov-regiment.html\">claimed<\/a> the Telegram post read. \u201cThe victims have respiratory failure, vestibular-atactic syndrome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The state outlet later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukrinform.net\/rubric-ato\/3455161-russias-chemical-attack-on-mariupol-three-persons-affected.html\">quoted<\/a>\u00a0Biletsky, the Azov Regiment founder, who also posted a message on Telegram mocking the Russians.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTalking of the practical side of the strike, it was small. Three persons are showing the clear signs of poisoning with warfare chemicals, but no catastrophic effects,\u201d the message reportedly read. \u201cThese idiots [Russians \u2013 Ed.] cannot even use the weapons of mass destruction properly. Talking of the moral side, this indicates the cowardice of Russians only.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey understand this will be spread across the globe. The entire world will get to know they are terrorists who violate numerous conventions,\u201d the message continued. \u201cHence, they are falling into despair, and they have nothing else to do but use indiscriminate prohibited weapons, as in World War I. But, nevertheless, Mariupol will win. Azov Regiment will win. Ukraine will win. Glory to Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>The Ukrainian Defense Ministry <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukrinform.net\/rubric-ato\/3455344-defense-ministry-russians-probably-used-phosphorus-bombs-in-mariupol.html\">appeared<\/a> to support the Azov leader\u2019s claims early Tuesday, accusing Russia of dropping phosphorus bombs on Mariupol.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20495756\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-cross-attempts-evacuate-mariupol-ukraine-upi.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20495756 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-cross-attempts-evacuate-mariupol-ukraine-upi.jpg\" alt=\"Mariupol now lies in a near total state of ruin (UPI)\" width=\"645\" height=\"429\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Vast areas of Mariupol now lie in a near total state of ruin (UPI)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAs of now, we are verifying this information. We are trying to understand what it was. But I can say from preliminary data that there are, rather, assumptions that phosphorus munitions could have been used,\u201d Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said in televised remarks. \u201cThe final official information will be released later. But we need to understand that the risk of using chemical weapons does exist, it is quite high.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>The Russian government has not, at press time, directly addressed the allegations, though state news outlet RT <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rt.com\/russia\/553716-ukraine-chemical-weapons-azov\/\">published<\/a> the claims.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>British under-secretary for the armed forces James Heappey indicated that the United Kingdom, which has been one of Ukraine\u2019s most vocal supporters in this phase of the eight-year-old war, would consider greater involvement in the event of a proven Russian chemical weapons attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAll possible options are on the table in terms of how the West might respond,\u201d\u00a0Newsweek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/russian-chemical-weapons-ukraine-james-heappey-nato-1697167\">quoted<\/a> Heappey as saying.<\/p>\n<p>UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss similarly announced in a post on Twitter that London is \u201cworking diligently with partners to verify\u201d the allegations and called any chemical weapons attack \u201can escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>The Azov Regiment \u2013 formally the \u201cAzov Special Operations Detachment\u201d \u2013 is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20220325-azov-regiment-takes-centre-stage-in-ukraine-propaganda-war\">openly<\/a> white supremacist wing of the Ukrainian National Guard.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20625995\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1150157674.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-20625995\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1150157674-1024x691-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"668\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>File\/Servicemen of the \u201cAzov\u201d regiment and Ukrainian National Guard (NGU) march through the city of Mariupol as they take part in a parade to mark the 5th anniversary of city\u2019s liberation from the Russia-backed rebels, on June 15, 2019. (EVGENIYA MAKSYMOVA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>While, when confronted by Western journalists, some in their ranks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2014\/sep\/10\/azov-far-right-fighters-ukraine-neo-nazis\">deny<\/a>\u00a0being Nazis, many openly express antisemitic views and the militia uses Nazi insignia. Many members boast Nazi tattoos. In an interview with an Azov fighter in 2014, the\u00a0<em>Guardian<\/em> narrated:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Dmitry claimed not to be a Nazi, but waxed lyrical about Adolf Hitler as a military leader, and believes the Holocaust never happened. Not everyone in the Azov battalion thinks like Dmitry, but after speaking with dozens of its fighters and embedding on several missions during the past week in and around the strategic port city of Mariupol, the Guardian found many of them to have disturbing political views, and almost all to be intent on \u201cbringing the fight to Kiev\u201d when the war in the east is over.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The U.K.\u00a0<em>Independent<\/em> noted of the militia\u2019s founder, Biletsky, that supporters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/europe\/ukraine-azov-battalion-mariupol-neo-nazis-b2043022.html\">refer<\/a> to him as \u201cWhite Ruler\u201d and he himself as written of his fighters: \u201cThe historic mission of our nation in this critical moment is to lead the white races of the world in a final crusade for their survival. A crusade against the Semite-led untermenschen [inferior races].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the current war escalation, Azov fighters have organized <a href=\"https:\/\/euromaidanpress.com\/2019\/10\/15\/steinmeier-formula-protest-continue-as-12000-march-in-kyiv-ukraine\/\">multiple<\/a> protests against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky specifically objecting to his Jewish identity. During a 2020 event <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jta.org\/2020\/10\/14\/global\/nationalist-marchers-in-kyiv-protest-occupation-of-ukraine-by-jewish-clan\">marking<\/a> a year in power for Zelensky, protesters unfurled a banner in front of the president\u2019s office reading \u201cCelebrating the anniversary of the occupation and robbery of Ukraine by the Dnipro Jewish clan of Vova Zelensky.\u201d The protesters also displayed the Nazi symbol used by the Azov Regiment.<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frances Martel on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1649767167560000&#038;usg=AOvVaw3rbnC08FjOcPT_hOd2u8h5\">Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1649767167560000&#038;usg=AOvVaw29eMJmL6xeLuvpNTZcl2Q_\">Twitter.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The founder of the Azov Regiment, a neo-Nazi militia formally integrated into the armed forces of Ukraine, accused Russia on Monday of using chemical weapons in Mariupol, a southern port<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1433317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1433317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1433317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1433317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1433317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}