The United States has removed a restriction on supplying weapons and training to the Azov brigade, a contentious Ukrainian military unit that was pivotal in the 2022 defense of Mariupol in the southeast.

On Tuesday, the US State Department announced after a “thorough examination” of the current Azov brigade, it found “no evidence” of human rights violations.

Washington emphasized that the present unit differs from the volunteer militia established in 2014, which included far-right fighters and faced criticism for some tactics. The US had banned the regiment from accessing its weapons due to the neo-Nazi affiliations of some of its founders.

“This marks a new chapter for our brigade,” the Azov unit stated on social media regarding the US decision. “Receiving Western arms and training from the United States will not only enhance Azov’s combat capabilities but also significantly protect the lives and health of our soldiers.”

Now integrated into Ukraine’s National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, Azov is among the nation’s most efficient and esteemed fighting units, with current members rejecting claims of extremism or far-right associations. The US noted the original militia was “disbanded in 2015”, and a State Department representative highlighted Azov’s “heroic role” in the 2022 Mariupol battle.

The removal of the ban is expected to strengthen the brigade’s operational capacity during a strenuous phase of the war against Russia’s invasion, with Ukraine facing ongoing ammunition and personnel shortages.

Azov fighters crucially defended Mariupol, enduring under siege for weeks in the extensive steel works of the Black Sea port city despite dwindling ammunition and constant Russian attacks.

The city succumbed to Russia in May 2022, but Azov soldiers are celebrated as heroes, embodying Ukrainian resistance against Russian incursion. Weekly rallies advocate for the freedom of hundreds of Azov POWs still held by Russia.

Moscow has consistently depicted Azov as a Nazi entity, alleging atrocities against them but providing minimal evidence. It labeled the unit a terrorist group in 2022.

“Such a sudden shift in Washington’s stance shows it will do anything to counter Russia... even align with neo-Nazis,” stated Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The brigade traces its origins to the Azov Battalion, one of several volunteer groups set up to combat Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Concerns about Azov raised by Human Rights Watch long before Russia's full-scale invasion, including allegations of severe abuses by its fighters.

According to Azov's website, since its initial commander departed in October 2014, the brigade has been “purging undesired elements” and attempts to remodel its public image as a proficient fighting force, distancing itself from controversial individuals.