Biden to lift ban on Ukrainian unit Azov Brigade using U.S. weapons

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The U.S. government will lift its ban on allowing a controversial Ukrainian military unit from using U.S. weapons, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing State Department officials.

The State Department reversed a decade-old prohibition on the Azov Brigade from using American training and weapons after a new analysis found no evidence of human rights violations by the unit, the Post reported.

The unit was barred about a decade ago from using American arms because U.S. officials determined that some of its founders espoused racist, xenophobic and ultranationalist views, and UN human rights officials accused the group of humanitarian violations.

The unit has been designated a terrorist group by Russia since August 2022. Most of the unit's members are from Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine.

(With input from agencies)