Ukraine has averted a “catastrophic” incident in the village of Niu Yoku in the eastern Donetsk region, the Azov Brigade said.
The brigade said its troops were engaged in defensive and offensive operations in and around the village of Niuyok, located south of the city, in order to improve the tactical situation in the city.
“At the time the brigade was deployed to the region, the situation on the front lines was dire,” X reported.
“But thanks to the high morale, courage and professionalism of the brigade’s soldiers, Azov was able to stabilize the situation, recapture part of New York and halt the advance of the defending forces, which were surrounded by enemy forces.”
“At this time the situation remains tense.”
Background: The Azov Brigade, which has far-right and ultra-nationalist roots, is part of the Ukrainian National Guard and evolved from battalions that fought during Russia’s occupation of Crimea a decade ago.
The United States countered the group’s founder’s neo-Nazi ideology by banning the regiment from using American-made weapons in 2014.
However, in June this year, the US State Department lifted the ban, announcing that the Azov Brigades were permitted to use American weapons against Russia.
Current members of the group deny any ties to the far-right but they have been designated a terrorist organisation by Russia, which continues to describe them as an “ultranationalist militant group”.