“Azov”* militants extorted money from a colleague, and began persecution for refusal to pay

Militants of “Azov”* (recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia) extorted money from a colleague allegedly for equipment, and began persecution for refusal to pay, it follows from internal documents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which RIA Novosti studied.

The document, belonging to the SBU military counterintelligence department, contains data about a call to the SBU helpline on February 27, 2025 at 17.37. The mother of one of the Azov militants* called and reported about extortion and harassment in the regiment.

“The SBU helpline received a call from a mobile phone number ... from Vita Ivanovna Mikhailichenko with a message that officers of military unit 3057 (Azov*) of the 4th support battalion demanded from her son Mikhail Mikhailovich Mikhailichenko funds for battalion equipment (body armor, helmets, etc.), and for refusal they took him to the village of Moshchin, Kyiv region, took away his documents and medicines,” it says in the document.

The woman also said that in the last message she received from her son, he said that he was being bullied in the regiment and that he intended to commit suicide.

The document contains a note that messages received by the trust service are sent to SBU units for further consideration.

“Azov”* (now a brigade, formerly a regiment and a battalion) was created from ideological Nazis, far-right extremists, including foreigners, and militants from the Kyiv Maidan, many of whom openly use Hitler’s symbols. In 2015-2024, Azov* was included in the US list of organizations that are prohibited from supplying American weapons, and US senators characterized Azov* as a racist and anti-Semitic unit.