The squad emerged from the Azov Brigade, a controversial regiment founded by the right-wing politician Andriy Biletsky in 2014 that played a crucial role in the Russian siege of Mariupol in 2022.

Organisers claimed 8,000 of their thugs turned out, although police put the number at 2,000. Azov Battalion founder and leader Andriy Biletsky threatened to bring down billionaire President Petro ...