Azov Regiment Information

Introduction

The Wikipedia article on the Azov Regiment seems to be well-sourced and have a neutral point of view. If you're looking for basic information, that's a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azov_Regiment

Some news articles explaining that the Azov Regiment are not Nazis

StopFake https://www.stopfake.org/en/why-azov-is-not-a-neo-nazi-battalion/

CBS news https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-azov-battalion-putin-premise-war-vs-nazis/

NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/07/02/world/europe/ukraine-nazis-russia-media.html

Lens (Monash University) https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2022/08/19/1384992/much-azov-about-nothing-how-the-ukrainian-neo-nazis-canard-fooled-the-world?amp=1

Azov symbols

Awesome Twitter thread from CanadianKobzar doing a super deep dive on the symbols used by Azov, like NI symbols (often claimed to be a mirrored Wolfsangel, seemingly falsely): https://twitter.com/CanadianKobzar/status/1591877114000998403

Note: this will be much easier to read when I (@ronnystickshift) can figure out how to do in-line placement of images. In the interim, the Figure numbers are clickable links that will take you to them.

Here's the thread reproduced in full for posterity's sake

1. Fellas. Get your bonking sticks ready. Today is going to be 🌶️. Before diving into this one, I want to thank my boys @Baej20381630 and @lostidentit7 for help translating this one. For today we talk about something preeeetty controversial - the former Azov Battalion logo. 1/23
2. This will NOT be about the political beliefs of Azov because the matter is settled. Azov 2014 had sketchy origins and bad apples, but it reformed, reorganized and rebranded to the new and separate Azov Regiment. Azov 2022 is NOT the same as Azov 2014. 2/23
3. So why talk about a former logo that has been dropped since 2017? Well, because it's still one of the arguments used by Russian trolls. I'm sure at some point you have seen the meme below : 3/23 (See Figure 1)
4. I don't need to restate the Russian side that the symbol is allegedly a "wolfsangel". Today, I want to present Azov's side of the argument - the position that it has held since its inception that it is the "idea of a nation" monogram, not a wolfsangel. 4/23
5. To be ABSOLUTELY clear - because I KNOW I am going to be swarmed by idiots today. I DO NOT support nazism, I condemn it. I am not denying Azov's shady past, but I am going to investigate the origin of their symbols and question the currently accepted narrative. 5/23
6. Obviously, I cannot conclude the true meaning, because I am not the creator of the symbol. Allegedly there is a video about this, so if someone has seen it, please post it! But please DECIDE for yourself what you think. 6/23
7. So lets jump into it - when you look at the wolfsangel and the Azov symbol, there are some similarities, but they are different. In particular pay attention to the size of the middle bar. 7/23
8. Now, most might think this doesn't matter. But when you are dealing with runes, tamgas, or coats of arms - the length of one item can mean the difference between two completely different symbols. 8/23
9. For example, the rune below is know as Gibor - this has nothing to do with either the wolfsangel OR the Azov symbol. 9/23 (See Figure 2)
10. Where does the Azov symbol come from? According to Azov, the symbol is an old Ruthenian (Ukrainian) coat of arms used by Ruthenian nobles in Volyn. It is also a monogram meaning the "idea of a nation" using the old Ukrainian "N" character and "I". 10/23
11. At first I thought this was bull shit, but then I actually looked into it. Western Ukraine was ruled by Poland in the 15th-17th centuries and thus implemented and used their system of heraldry. 11/23
12. Below are two of the oldest coats of arms used by Ruthenian noble families in Red Ruthenia, Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine. In particular, they were used by Ruthenian nobles in Volyn. This speaks for itself. 12/23 (See Figures 3 and 4)
13. I want to point out the middle bar for each of the above are either longer, or as long as the outside bars - consistent with the appearance of the Azov logo. Also consistent with the Azov logo are the "hooks" at the top and bottom of the middle bar. 13/23 (See Figure 5)
14. Keep in mind the wolfsangel, the middle bar is always smaller than the other two outside bars. So based on the rules of heraldry in Poland, Germany and even comparing to Nazi Germany, Azov's symbol is not actually a wolfsangel. 14/23
15. Now what about the "idea of a nation"? Well, its well established that the character "I" is unique to Ukrainian and is not found in Russian language. So this could have merit. But what about the "N"? 15/23
16. The book below is entitled "Book of Genesis of the Ukrainian People" published in 1921. It was an influential work on Ukrainian identify. When you look at the word "Народу" (Nation) it uses the pre-Petrine Ukrainian character "N" and not "н". 16/23
17. So. Ya. At first, I thought this was also nonsense. Much to my surprise even the "idea of a nation" has some basis and connection to Ukrainian history. 17/23
18. Now, what about the black sun? To be clear, I don't think anyone should use this symbol, but I think this is a case of mistaken identity. Freedom House and ADL also agree with me to some extent based on their recent studies. 18/23
19. The black sun is based on a common motif used by ancient cultures such as the Celts and Germanic tribes of medieval Europe. Also known as the sonnenrad or Zierscheibe. 19/23 (See Figures 6 and 7)
20. It is possible that people (including Azov) incorrectly assumed the black sun was a slavic/norse symbol. Search up "slavic solar wheel" or "slavic sun", often you will results like below. Slavic paganism is a thing and is on the rise - don't dismiss this as a factor. 20/23 (See Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11)
21. Don't think a mistake like this could be made? Well heres an example. Below is a 17th century Icelandic witchcraft stave. Its now commonly being sold as a "viking compass symbol". Most people think they are wearing a viking symbol. They're not. 21/23 (See Figures 12 and 13)
22. Despite the possible innocent interpretation, Azov's move to drop the black sun in 2017 was a good call. Its a controversial symbol with little connection to Ukraine. We must be careful when we use symbols, particularly when Russia accuses everything of being "nazi". 22/23
23. We already have a badass norse/slavic symbol and thats the Tryzub - we should be using that instead. So, in light of the above, what do you all think of the symbol? 23/23