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.
