The Azov Case
Volunteer Battalions in Ukraine
Tetjana Bezruk, Andreas Umland
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Volunteer battalions are a response to Russia’s covert invasion of Ukraine. While most of the formations can be considered as a war-related version of civil society within post-revolutionary Ukraine, there are volunteer formations that bear the marks of “uncivil society”. Among them is the Azov Battalion. Its history is sketchy, its leadership and symbolism are fascist. But Azov, which has been upgraded to a national guard regiment, is atypical.
(Osteuropa 1-2/2015, pp. 33–42)