Azov Brigade targets Moscow for retaliation after Mariupol siege
The Ukrainian unit that surrendered at Azovstal in 2022 has evolved from a defensive force into one capable of projecting strikes deep into Russian territory
The unit that made its last stand in the tunnels beneath Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant is now reaching for Moscow itself. The Azov Brigade, formerly known as the Azov Regiment, is preparing long-range strikes targeting Russia’s capital as direct retaliation for the brutal siege and occupation of Mariupol.
From Azovstal’s ashes to Moscow’s airspace
Established in 2014 as a volunteer battalion during Ukraine’s conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas, the unit initially played a pivotal role in recapturing Mariupol before being folded into Ukraine’s National Guard as a more formalized fighting force.
The siege of Mariupol became one of the war’s defining chapters, with Azov fighters holding the Azovstal steel plant for weeks under relentless bombardment. Their surrender in May 2022 was framed by Moscow as a victory. By Kyiv, it was framed as a sacrifice.
In May 2026, Azov released footage of drone operations conducted directly over Mariupol, describing the missions as a “patrol” over their hometown. The brigade’s expanding operational scope now includes strikes aimed at Moscow, contributing to a broader Ukrainian campaign that has forced Russian military planners to reinforce air defenses around the capital.
How drone warfare changed the equation
Ukrainian long-range drone strikes in 2026 have forced Russian air defenses into Moscow, limiting civilian air traffic. The involvement of prominent Azov commanders in planning and executing these expanded operations signals that the brigade’s leadership views this as strategic retaliation, a direct response to what happened in Mariupol.
The US policy shift that helped make it possible
A key enabler of Azov’s operational expansion was the US decision in June 2024 to lift its longstanding ban on providing arms and training to the unit. That ban had been in place for years, rooted in concerns about the brigade’s origins and the far-right elements associated with its early membership, which had effectively blacklisted Azov from receiving American military assistance even as other Ukrainian units benefited from extensive Western support.
Lifting the restriction opened the door for enhanced combat training and access to equipment that has contributed to the brigade’s ability to conduct sophisticated, longer-range operations.