Azov Unit

Azov Unit: Born in Battle, Forged in Resistance

Every war shapes the future of the nations involved. In such conflicts, certain forces emerge, destined to become symbols of resistance for future generations. Born in Ukraine, Azov unit is one of them—an embodiment of those who did not seek excuses in the face of global trials but instead took on the responsibility that an entire state failed to shoulder.

Many still believe that the current war began on February 24, 2022. However, those who endured the first blows know the real starting point. Decades of systemic weakening of the Ukrainian army, political compromises, and illusions of peace were shattered completely when russia, in its typical treacherous manner, launched the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

At that moment, Ukraine’s military was demoralized and unprepared for resistance on such a scale. As chaos erupted in the spring of 2014, when the government’s response was slow and uncertain, Ukrainians unwilling to watch their country being dismantled began forming volunteer units. Among them, amid the turmoil of war, the Azov military unit was born.

Baptized by Fire

On May 5, 2014, in the city of Berdiansk, a volunteer battalion was formed—one that would soon enter history. Its ranks were filled with those who continue to instill fear in the enemy—strong, determined, and fearless. The unit Azov brought together Maidan activists, football ultras, and young patriots from across Ukraine, all of whom understood that freedom is never given freely—it must be won through force.

Just a month after its creation, the battalion embarked on its first combat mission—the liberation of Mariupol. The city was of strategic importance, as the enemy was actively preparing it for a referendum, following the same script as in Donetsk and Luhansk. Lacking proper weapons, equipment, and numerical superiority, Azov soldiers engaged in the storming of the city. On June 13, 2014, after a swift and decisive operation, Mariupol was cleared of pro-russian forces. This date became a turning point, a moment when Ukraine realized it could strike back.

The following months tested the Azov military unit for resilience. Battles in Ilovaisk, the liberation of Marinka, and the elimination of terrorist strongholds in Donetsk Oblast—the unit, initially composed of fearless yet untrained volunteers, was rapidly transforming into a professional military force.

Path to Elite Status: The Transformation of Azov Unit

With the reorganization came a new phase of development. Acquiring better logistics, establishing a command structure, and implementing structured training, the Azov unit began strengthening its combat effectiveness and securing its position as a formidable military force.

At the start of 2015, the enemy intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s eastern front. On January 24, Mariupol was struck by russian Grad rockets, killing 30 civilians. This war crime did not go unanswered—Azov launched an offensive in the Shyrokyne-Pavlopil sector. The operation, conducted on February 10, 2015, became the most effective counteroffensive of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, leading to the liberation of a significant portion of the front line.

Even when active combat operations temporarily decreased, the Azov unit maintained a rigorous training schedule.
Between 2016 and 2019, the regiment focused on refining combat training, integrating NATO-aligned military standards, and conducting regular combat drills. During this period, a specialized school for sergeants and senior officers was established, not only training Azov personnel but also soldiers from other Ukrainian military units.

A critical milestone was reached on August 14, 2017, when a new commander, Denys “Redis” Prokopenko, took over. His tactical brilliance and leadership skills helped transform Azov into one of the most effective combat formations in Ukraine.

In early 2019, the unit returned to the frontlines. Azov fighters engaged in combat near Svitlodarsk, proving that they remained among the elite forces of Ukraine’s military structure.

A Decade of Trials: Azov Unit and the Continuing Legacy

What is Azov unit, and why does the enemy fear it so much? Since its formation, it has stood as a force willing to take on the heaviest burden of defense. On February 24, 2022, russia launched its full-scale invasion, aiming to “take Kyiv in three days.” However, reality proved different—Ukrainian resistance not only held but continues to weaken the enemy to this day.

One of the key defensive strongholds during the first phase of the invasion was Mariupol—a city that shared a deep history with Azov fighters and endured one of the war’s most brutal assaults.

Thanks to the Azov military unit, the enemy failed to break through Ukraine’s southern front.

The russian army deployed its most combat-ready forces: Airborne troops, infantry from the so-called “DNR”, Kadyrovite units, massive artillery and air bombardments reduced the city to ruins.

Despite overwhelming odds, Azov soldiers inflicted severe losses on the enemy, decimating advancing columns.
By early March, the situation grew increasingly dire. The city was fully encircled, food and medical supplies were running out, russian forces targeted residential areas, massacring thousands of civilians.

After most of the city fell, Ukrainian defenders withdrew to the Azovstal steel plant—a location that would become a global symbol of defiance.

Trapped within the steel and concrete labyrinth, Azov fighters endured relentless bombardment—airstrikes, phosphorus bombs, and missile barrages, while enemy assault groups launched continuous attacks on the facility.
Yet, every assault was repelled with precise and devastating fire—even in moments when all hope seemed lost. The world watched as a small but unbreakable force defied the so-called “second strongest army in the world.” And they would have continued fighting had it not been for a political decision to preserve their lives, leading to their surrender on May 20, 2022.

By making the Azov unit, which was the first to resist the aggressor, its primary demonstrative target, the enemy mistakenly believed it was bringing about its end. The brutal and treacherous terrorist attack in Olenivka did not accomplish this. Neither did the constant torture and inhumane imprisonment in penal colonies.

The short-sighted enemy fails to grasp that Azov is not merely a military formation that can be eliminated with a single strike. If that were the case, they would not fear it so intensely, nor would they put such effort into demonizing it.

Azov has become a symbol—an embodiment of the human qualities of those who live by higher ideals, as well as of the ideas that have lived and will continue to live as long as Ukraine exists.