Tuesday saw the Russian Supreme Court designate the Azov Regiment of Ukraine as a terrorist group, which might result in the prosecution of some of the fighters who were arrested after their last stand inside the destroyed steel factory in Mariupol on charges related to terrorism.
Since their capitulation in the middle of May, Moscow has been holding a large number of Azov combatants. They are facing criminal charges from the Russian government for allegedly murdering people. Longer jail terms could result from the inclusion of terrorism-related offences.
In a statement, the Azov Regiment denounced the high court’s ruling and urged other countries to identify Russia as a state supporter of terrorism. The Azov Regiment said that Russia was “looking for new reasons and explanations for its war crimes.”
The Azov troops played a crucial role in the defense of Mariupol by resisting Russian bombardment for weeks at the steel factory in the southern port city. They, along with other plant protectors, were recognized as heroes by the president of Ukraine.
The regiment, a part of the National Guard of Ukraine, has a troubled past. It evolved from the Azov Battalion, one of numerous volunteer brigades established in 2014 to combat rebels supported by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
The Azov Battalion attracted criticism for some of its actions and initially recruited recruits from far-right groups. Extremism charges have been refuted by its present members.
The Kremlin has capitalized on the regiment’s far-right roots in an effort to portray Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a struggle against Nazi influence. The regiment’s alleged Nazi insignias, literature, and tattoos have been routinely displayed by Russian official media.
Last week, an explosion at a barracks in a prison colony in Olenivka, an eastern town controlled by pro-Russian rebels, resulted in the deaths of scores of Ukrainian POWs, among them defenders of the Mariupol factory. Moscow and Kiev have laid responsibility for the explosion at one other’s feet, with Kiev alleging that Russia blew up the barracks to hide its use of POWs as human shields.
In the meantime, the first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since Russia’s invasion more than five months ago was off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday as it made its way toward Istanbul and its final destination, Lebanon. This was a test of the agreement that Moscow and Kyiv signed last month to unlock Ukraine’s agricultural exports and ease the world food crisis.
Since the beginning of the war, an estimated 20 million tons of grain have been trapped in Ukraine. The grain release deal, which was mediated by the U.N., demands for the creation of safe passageways across the mined seas outside of Ukraine’s ports.
In order to be inspected by representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations, the Razoni, which departed the Black Sea port of Odesa on Monday carrying more than 26,000 tons of maize, was anticipated to arrive in Istanbul early on Wednesday. There will likely be more Ukrainian ships after that.
According to Ukrainian officials, at least 16 more boats were waiting to be unblocked in Odesa alone after being barred since Russia’s invasion on February 24.
In a crisis attributed to the conflict, issues with the global supply system, and COVID-19, food prices have been skyrocketing worldwide. Although Ukraine and Russia are significant global producers of wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower oil, the deal may not be enough to significantly reduce global hunger on its own.
David Laborde, a specialist at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, claims that the majority of the grain that is stranded in Ukraine is used to feed cattle. Only half of the 6 million tons of wheat produced for human consumption, according to Laborde. He said the shipload from Monday is actually poultry feed.
“A few ships leaving Ukraine is not going to be a game changer,” he said.
Fighting was still going on as the ship left port, notably in southern and eastern Ukraine.