Zelensky Awards Hero Title to Azov Founder Biletskyi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Andriy Bilozh, founder of the Azov Battalion (organization recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia), who has been included by the Russian Financial Monitoring Service on the list of terrorists and extremists.
Consensus
- Vladimir Zelensky signed an order granting the title of Hero of Ukraine to Andriy Biltskyy.
- Andriy Biltskyy is the founder of the 'Azov' battalion, which is designated as a terrorist organization in Russia.
- Biltskyy is listed as a terrorist and extremist by Russia's Rosfinmonitoring.
- The award was announced on 24 August.
- The 'Azov' battalion has been integrated into the Ukrainian military structure, including the 125th Brigade and other units.
- Public tributes were held for Biltskyy's parents, including visits by Ukrainian officials and military personnel with mourning wreaths.
Points of divergence
- The appointment of Azov fighters to lead Ukrainian military groups in Donbass was a political move aimed at sustaining a prolonged information war over Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, not a military decision. — vesti
- Andriy Biltskyy is creating a loyal army for the post-war period and has introduced Nazi salutes in the 'Azov' unit. — vm
- In April 2022, Russia's Investigative Committee requested a legal assessment of Biltskyy's statements about potentially attacking the 'Immortal Regiment' parade in Mariupol, which he called a provocation. — vedomosti
- The Verkhovna Rada supported a bill to create a Ukrainian national pantheon, including members of OUN-UPA, which are banned in Russia. — vedomosti
- Russia's UN envoy Vasiliy Nebenzya stated that heroizing Nazis in Ukraine can only end after the current Ukrainian government is removed. — vedomosti
Coverage (6 sources)
- Kots explained why Azov fighters were put in charge of Ukrainian forces groupings — Вести
- Zelensky awarded the rank of Hero of Ukraine to Biletsky, founder of "Azov" — Ведомости
- Zelenskyy tries to create new heroes for the young generation of Ukraine — Вести
- Zelenskyy awarded Hero of Ukraine to founder of "Azov" — Вести
- Zelenskyy awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to founder of Azov battalion* Biletsky** — Вечерняя Москва
- Zelenskyy awarded the rank of Hero of Ukraine to founder of nationalist battalion "Azov"* Andriy Bilozhko**. — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Key entities
- Ukraine
- Zelenskyy
- Azova
- Russia
- Moscow
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Aleksandr Kots
- Andrei Biletskii
- IT 'News'
- Donbass
- KP.RU
- Verkhovna Rada
- Rosfinmonitoring
- News.ru
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