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In Ukraine, a photograph of a group of heavily armed men with a Nazi flag leads to the Azov movement-linked group "Avangard"/ "Students' Avangard" (ВПО Авангард/ ГО Студентський Авангард)and its successors that currently offer "tactical-special training" in downtown Kyiv. THREAD
In August 2019 Ukrainian "Tarrant's lads" Telegram -known for spreading printed copies of Christchurch shooter manifesto- shared this photo claiming that it showed "volunteers" (in the war against Russian aggression) from Russia, Belarus & was taken by "a volunteer from Ukraine"
"We're shaping the force that will change the future of Europe[...]Our decision is to strike with a united front against those who want to destroy our nations and to substitute them with hordes of foreigners", the text went, also calling on "all white brothers to take up arms".
But armed men in the Nazi flag photo are apparently members of the "military-patriotic organization "Avangard", that seemingly merged with Azov's "National Militia" in early 2018. The same individuals are seen with the "Avangard" flag in the latter's 2017 social media post.
A side-by-side comparison of the two photos leaves little doubt that the group with the Nazi flag are the same men identified by "Avangard" in 2017 as "our fighters currently on the front line", and as "members of the Avangard [...] the year 2017" in a 2020 social media post.
Online "Avangard" used that name interchangeably with "Students' Avangard" (Студентський Авангард). The latter is a registered NGO, umbrella organization - in 2019 it changed the name to "PLOMIN"= Azov movement's far-right book club/publisher - led by prolific Yevhen Vriadnyk
"MPO "Avangard" operated out of the hubs of Ukraine's far-right Azov movement, including the Cossack House in downtown Kyiv, and Azov's sprawling ATEK base in the capital of Ukraine.
"Avangard" social media pages are replete with photos showing supposed leaders, figures of that organization using the Azov movement's facilities, promos of various classes there. "MPO "Avangard" was also advertised to college students, alongside Azov's Plomin book club, etc.
"MPO "Avangard"/"Students' Avangard" apparently cooperated with Alexey Levkin, Russian emigre far-right figure who continues to play an important role in the Azov movement [some background re Azov and Levkin here: ]
Remarkably, an April 2017 a VK post by "Avangard" said that the group could provide recommendations for members -  who passed exams held at Azov's ATEK base and were patched - who wanted to join the Azov Regiment, Ukraine's Armed Forces, Ukrainian Volunteer Battalions.
This is relevant TODAY because although the "MPO "Avangard"/ "Students' Avangard" went dormant in 2018 and announced a merger with then-nascent Azov's National Militia, the group has recently reappeared as "Cultural Union "Avangard" (Авангард Культурна Спілка)
"Cultural Union Avangard" is self-admittedly a continuation of "MPO "Avangard"/ "Students' Avangard", and operates - just like its predecessor - out of the Cossack House, the hub of far-right Azov movement in downtown Kyiv, alongside Azov's "Plomin" book club/publisher.
In July 2020 "Cultural Union "Avangard" offers boxing classes, "military training"/"tactical-special training", lectures, etc. and mentions online its past experience with "regular training of this kind for youth as well tours to the front lines for that youth".
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