Gonzalo Lira reported killed in Ukraine

 News at first was he was missing. Now Scott Ritter said he has been killed the Azov Battalion, but no third party confirmation.

Lev Golinkin — Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine

Longish and detailed, with lots of documentation. It's an excellent reference tool.

Concerning in itself but also because of US support that turns a blind eye to it. "Never again" is happening again.

The Nation
Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine
Lev Golinkin

Ulson Gunnar — Ukraine’s Neo-Nazis “Suddenly” a Problem as Power Grows

US caught supporting not only terrorist proxies in the Middle East proxied but also neo-Nazis in Ukraine? Oh my!

NEO
Ukraine’s Neo-Nazis “Suddenly” a Problem as Power Grows

Ulson Gunnar

Der Spiegel — REVEALED: 2,500 German neo-nazi mercernaries fought in Ukraine conflict

German news. Will the US and UK new report it?

Fort Russ
REVEALED: 2,500 German neo-nazi mercernaries fought in Ukraine conflict
Der Spiegel

Translated by J Flores

Lev Golinkin — The reality of neo-Nazis in Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda

As the Trump administration mulls sending weapons to Ukraine, the question of far-right forces employed by the Kiev government has returned to the forefront. Some Western observers claim that there are no neo-Nazi elements in Ukraine, chalking the assertion up to propaganda from Moscow. Unfortunately, they are sadly mistaken.
There are indeed neo-Nazi formations in Ukraine. This has been overwhelmingly confirmed by nearly every major Western outlet. The fact that analysts are able to dismiss it as propaganda disseminated by Moscow is profoundly disturbing. It is especially disturbing given the current surge of neo-Nazis and white supremacists across the globe.
The most infamous neo-Nazi group in Ukraine is the 3,000-strong Azov Battalion, founded in 2014. Prior to creating Azov, its commander, Andriy Biletsky, headed the neo-Nazi group Patriot of Ukraine, members of which went on to form the core of Azov. Biletsky had stated that the mission of Ukraine is to “lead the White Races of the world in a final crusade for their survival … against the Semite-led Untermenschen.”...

The article doesn't mantion that Andrey Biletsky is member of Ukraine's parliament (the Verkhovna Rada), founder of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard, and leader of the National Corps Party. See the post below.

The Hill
The reality of neo-Nazis in Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda
Lev Golinkin, Opinion Contributor

See also

Member of Ukraine's parliament (the Verkhovna Rada), founder of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard, and leader of the National Corps Party, Andrey Biletsky, has urged Ukrainian authorities to launch an offensive on the republics of Donbass. To seize Donbass, Biletsky says, the Ukrainian army should use combat aircraft and do everything in its power to have Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance forces destabilize Russia.

In his statement, Biletsky advised that Kiev should think about turning the present war into a total “hybrid” one, involving all available forces to break up the Russian Federation....

"Our" guy.

Fort Russ
Top Ukrainian Nazi demands war in Donbass and terrorist attacks in Russia
Eduard Popov - translated by Jafe Arnold

Rusvesna — Russian Foreign Ministry to Washington: it's time to see the coup in Kiev was done by the hands of Nazi thugs

Moscow wants to remind Washington that other formations of the National guard of Ukraine are no better than the "Azov" battalion. This was stated by the official representative of Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Lukashevich, in connection with the ban on allocation of funds for training of "Azov", which was supported by the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress.

"It took more then a year for the US Congress to realize that this unit is a bunch of outright Nazis, flaunting the emblems of Nazi SS troops and behaving like the Nazis on the occupied territory. But better late than never", — said the diplomat.

The next logical step - is to recognize, finally, that last year's coup in Kiev, strongly supported by Washington, was done by the hands of those same Nazi thugs.

"Obviously, the other formations of the National guard of Ukraine are no better than "Azov", — he noted.

For Russ
Russian Foreign Ministry to Washington: it's time to see the coup in Kiev was done by the hands of Nazi thugs
Rusvesna
Translated by Kristina Rus

Sputnik — Ukraine's Ultra-Nationalist Azov Battalion Sets Sights on Donbass, Crimea

The military commander of the Neo-Nazi unit, Andriy Biletsky, has used the social media to reach out to his comrades-in-arms. He wrote that 1,200 fighters under his command won’t lay down arms and will continue fighting until the flags of the unit are raised over Donbass and Crimea....

Many Azov members hold Neo-Nazi beliefs. The official Azov emblem is the Wolfsangel ("wolf-anchor"). During World War II, the symbol and its elements were used by various Nazi German military units, including the SS Panzer Division.

Putting this in context, Victory Day is the celebration of the defeat of Nazism.

Sputnik
Ukraine's Ultra-Nationalist Azov Battalion Sets Sights on Donbass, Crimea

Also

Origins of Hate: Pre-Maidan Textbook Teaches Youth to Hate 'Subhumans'

Right Sector Nationalist Group Likely to Join Ukrainian Army Soon

Nicholas Lazaredes — Ukraine crisis: Inside the Mariupol base of the controversial Azov battalion

Another Western article reports on the swastikas and Waffen SS symbols in the Azov Battalion — and then minimizes it, finally glorifying the heroic fighters for the Motherland.

The first thing you notice as you walk through the corridors of the Azov battalion's base in Mariupol are the swastikas. 

There are many — painted on doors, adorning the walls and chalked onto the blackboards of this former school, now temporary headquarters for the Azov troops.
It is a confronting sight and when I query the young soldier assigned to show me around he is quick to correct me, pointing out that the symbol is in fact a "modified swastika" — more like the letter N crossed with a straight line. 

When I point to another symbol of the Third Reich etched on the wall, that of Hitler's "SS", he simply shrugs and says: "We are nationalists, but we are not Nazis."
The Azov battalion is a highly controversial Ukrainian paramilitary group that has drawn much criticism for its links to the far right. 

The imagery it has chosen to adopt hardly helps to allay concerns, but for my young guide it is a non-issue. 

"Some journalists prefer to present us as Nazis. They look for any chance to discredit our regiment," he said.

What this means is that the neo-Nazi penetration is no longer possible to conceal, so it has be to be admitted and then explained away.

That the extent of it. The rest of the article is about the patriotic defenders of Ukraine against alleged Russian aggression.

Dancer had his last "brush with the enemy" less than a month ago on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol, near the village of Shyrokine, when his unit came under attack by rebel forces who he claims were mostly Russian. 

"I was deployed as a spotter and I saw Russian military equipment with Russian flags and Russian car tags through my binoculars," he said. 

"There were T-72 tanks, Russian armoured vehicles and Russian troops.
"They were real professionals, not volunteers. Regular volunteers can't fight like that."

For all the supposed Russian soldiers and equipment, still no pictures.

Australian Broadcasting Company
Ukraine crisis: Inside the Mariupol base of the controversial Azov battalion
Nicholas Lazaredes in Ukraine

Robert Parry — NYT Whites Out Ukraine’s Brown Shirts

The New York Times has been more biased on the Ukraine crisis – endlessly promoting State Department propaganda – than when it published false Iraqi WMD stories last decade. Case in point: a story from Mariupol hailing the Azov battalion without noting its neo-Nazi fighters, writes Robert Parry.

The battalion insignia of the Azov Battalion is a modified Waffen SS Wolfsangle.

Moreover, the story was apparently a plant to draw attention away from the settling of a Ukrainian Army Force by the separatists coincident with the Normandy talks. There was to battle at Mariupol. The separatists were occupied elsewhere.

Consortium News
NYT Whites Out Ukraine’s Brown Shirts

Robert Parry

Adrian Karatnycky — Warlords and armed groups threaten Ukraine’s rebuilding

Opening the curtain a crack, but only a crack, counterbalanced with Western propaganda, as in:  "Civic activism is on the upsurge, and a new government team — populated with many foreign-born and Western-educated ministers — is largely free from the control of the country’s super-rich, who dictated policy in the past." But at least it's a start for the US. 

Europe is more cognizant of this than America and also much more concerned since it is happening on the ground over which WWII fought with the Nazi forces, both the German military and central Europeans allied with them. Needless to say, the Russian press is playing this up big since anti-Nazi sentiment runs high there and Nazi insignia on Ukrainian troops is like waving a red flag in front of a bull that has been gored.

It's not the "warlordism" and "armed groups" to be chiefly concerned about. It's what they stand for.

The Washington Post | Opinion
Warlords and armed groups threaten Ukraine’s rebuilding

Adrian Karatnycky | senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, where he co-directs the “Ukraine in Europe” initiative

Russia — Insider Astounding: Top Ukrainian Politician Explains his Nazi Beliefs

Full-on Nazi.

The interesting matter is that the Right Sektor won a relatively few seats in the recent election, but its leaders have been appointed to top government positions.

Russia Insider
Astounding: Top Ukrainian Politician Explains his Nazi Beliefs

Memories are made of this

Russia Insider
Does this Chilling Neo-Nazi Torch-lit March through Kiev Remind You of Something?
Damir Marinovic

Russian Lawmakers Outraged as Kiev Declares Pro-Nazi Force Creation Date as National Holiday

Tass

Many Russian legislators are deeply angered by Kiev’s decision to declare October 14, the day when the pro-Nazi Ukrainian Insurgent Army was created during World War II in 1942, as Defender of the Nation Day and a public holiday. The UIA gained notoriety as an active collaborator with the Nazi force of occupation and participant in many WW II massacres of civilian population. Members of both houses of the Russian parliament interpreted this move as Kiev’s official confirmation of its commitment to Nazi ideas....

“Certainly, each country has the right to introduce its own memorable dates, but the fact that October 14 was selected to cater to the tastes of the followers of Stepan Bandera (UIA founder) regrettably shows once again that Kiev is officially supportive of Nazi ideology,” said State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergey Zheleznyak. “It also confirms the dependence of the Ukrainian authorities in their decision-making on radical nationalists and the attempt to trample underfoot the common history of our countries and peoples, and ridicule World War II veterans and the memory of millions of people who gave their lives for the sake of our great victory in those awesome battles.” 

“Mr. Poroshenko has instituted a special holiday honouring Ukraine’s number one Nazi henchman. He did that in a very cynical way by abolishing the existing holiday, revered by many millions of officers and men, both retired and still in active service,” Zheleznyak said.

Meanwhile, in Japan…

Bloomberg
Abe Sends Offering to Tokyo War Shrine as Lawmakers Visit
Takashi Hirokawa

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent an offering to a Tokyo war shrine in lieu of a visit, which may have provoked the ire of China and South Korea and undermined his push for summits with both nations’ leaders. 

A cross-party group of 110 lawmakers visited Yasukuni Shrine today, upper house lawmaker Toshiei Mizuochi told reporters. Abe’s offering of a traditional “masakaki,” a leafy branch on a stand swathed in colorful cloth, was confirmed by a shrine spokesman. At least one cabinet minister is expected to pay their respects today, at the start of the shrine’s autumn festival. 

Abe’s donation to a shrine seen by many as a symbol of Japan’s past aggression in Asia comes as he pushes for meetings with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and South Korean Park Geun Hye at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Beijing next month. Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso may hold talks with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on the sidelines of a meeting of finance ministers in Beijing next week, the Nikkei newspaper reported today, citing people it did not identify. 

“As long as Abe and any of the key ministers don’t go, Yasukuni will not be a roadblock to summit meetings,” Jeff Kingston, Director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo, said by e-mail. “Abe doesn’t want to be seen to be kowtowing to Beijing to get a meeting, but also doesn’t want to derail that possibility given that it seems to be a done deal.”

Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi said this week she would visit the shrine for the autumn festival. Yasukuni honors millions of Japanese war dead, including 14 wartime leaders convicted as Class A War criminals after the war. 

The US is OK is all this.

Damir Marinovic — Watch Poroshenko Award Medals to Neo-Nazis (captions, 1 minute)

Russia Insider
Watch Poroshenko Award Medals to Neo-Nazis (captions, 1 minute)
Damir Marinovic

Also, World's Most Important Jewish Advocacy Group "Horrified" by Nazi Resurgence in Ukraine

The WJC president wrote: “I was horrified to see photographs […] of young Ukrainians wearing the dreaded SS uniform with swastikas clearly visible on their helmets as they carried the caskets of members of this Nazi unit."

Robert Parry — Ukraine’s ‘Romantic’ Nazi Storm Troopers

The U.S. mainstream media’s deeply biased coverage of the Ukraine crisis – endlessly portraying the U.S.-backed coup regime in Kiev as “the good guys” – reached a new level of absurdity over the weekend as the Washington Post excused the appearance of Swastikas and other Nazi symbols among a Ukrainian government militia as “romantic.”

Bizarre. See Azov Battalion aka Azov brigade

In other words, for the first time since World War II, a government had dispatched Nazi storm troopers to attack a European population – and officials in Kiev knew what they were doing.…

Over the past several days, more evidence emerged about the presence of Nazis in the ranks of Ukrainian government fighters. Germans were shocked to see video of Azov militia soldiers decorating their gear with the Swastika and the “SS rune.” 

NBC News reported last week: “Germans were confronted with images of their country’s dark past on Monday night, when German public broadcaster ZDF showed video of Ukrainian soldiers with Nazi symbols on their helmets in its evening newscast.
“The video was shot … in Ukraine by a camera team from Norwegian broadcaster TV2. ‘We were filming a report about Ukraine’s AZOV battalion in the eastern city of Urzuf, when we came across these soldiers,’ Oysten Bogen, a correspondent for the private television station, told NBC News.

Consortiumnews.com
Ukraine’s ‘Romantic’ Nazi Storm Troopers
Robert Parry