Zelensky boosts crypto-Nazi ‘military community’ — Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited the war-torn Donetsk region to mark Special Operations Forces (SOF) Day in Ukraine, which is celebrated on July 29 to commemorate the youngest branch of the military. At an undisclosed location, reportedly near Bakhmut, the President of Ukraine met with SOF representatives who gifted him a…

Azov Lobby Updates (early-to-mid 2023) — A recent poll found that 43% of respondents in Ukraine disagreed with the statement that “Nazi and/or neo-Nazi ideology is not widespread in Ukraine.” Meanwhile, one of two Chief Rabbis of Ukraine, the Trump-loving, January 6-cheering Moshe Azman, blessed Vladyslav Zhaivoronok, an Azov veteran and former POW who spent several…

Contours of a potential rift in the Azov Movement? — The Nation recently published an important article by Lev Golinkin about the western media’s scandalous whitewashing of the neo-Nazi Azov Movement in Ukraine, which now “counts two brigades: the initial one in the National Guard and the recently created one in the army.” The former is the notorious Azov Regiment*…

Another Azov delegation visits the United States — Over the past year, “Ukes, Kooks & Spooks” has published half a dozen posts about the neo-Nazi Azov Movement’s outreach to the United States, including a delegation from last autumn (Part 1, Part 2), visits by a neo-Nazi press officer for the Azov Regiment (Part 1, Part 2), and the…

Ukrainian Volunteer Day 2023 — Since 2017, the Ukrainian government has marked March 14 as Ukrainian Volunteer Day, to commemorate the formation of the first volunteer battalion in 2014. This year, Volodymyr Zelensky held a ceremony in the White Hall of Mariinsky Palace, the official residence of the President of Ukraine, to honor various military…

Special Branding Operation to Nazify Ukraine — Previously on “Ukes, Kooks & Spooks,” we peeked at the far-right underbelly of M-TAC, Ukraine’s “largest and most powerful brand of clothing and equipment in the tactical and military industry,” that became central to Volodymyr Zelensky’s “de facto uniform” after Russia invaded Ukraine. But “Zelensky branded by fascists?” just scratched…

Pt. 2: The Intermarium Project — To recap Part One, “Support Azov” (SA) was established last summer as the international fundraising arm of Ukraine’s notorious neo-Nazi movement. It is managed by a prominent figure in the National Corps, the political party led by Azov founder Andriy Biletsky. The Azov charity might just be an extension of…

‘Fraud, Violence, Intimidation and Dirty Tricks’ — Many reading this will have already heard last week’s news that Albuquerque police arrested Solomon Peña, a former Republican candidate for the New Mexico State House, for orchestrating a series of shootings targeting Democrats after his unsuccessful first political campaign. Peña, 39, insisted that he actually won in 2022, despite…

Far-right underbelly of Ukraine’s “most powerful brand” — Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, adopted his “signature style” after Russia invaded his country. Much if not most of his wardrobe, from his olive-green shirts and sweaters and pants, to fleece and winter jackets, and even his Star Wars apparel, is from M-TAC, Ukraine’s “largest and most powerful…