Russia declares Ukrainian military unit a terrorist group

The Russian Supreme Court has declared Ukraine’s Azov Regiment a terrorist organization banned in Russia, a designation that fuels the Kremlin’s narrative of the war in Ukraine and that may expose Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Moscow to terrorism charges. Azov, which played a key part in the defense of Ukraine’s southeastern city of Mariupol, has been repeatedly portrayed by Russian officials as a Nazi formation allegedly committing atrocities against Ukraine’s civilians. No evidence has surfaced to back up these assertions. Scores of Azov fighters are being held captive by Moscow. The Russian authorities have opened multiple criminal cases against them, accusing them of killing civilians.