Ukraine's Top Reconstruction Official Quits
TimeJUN 2024
US Lifts Weapons Ban on Ukraine's Azov Brigade
Above: The symbol of the Azov brigade on the uniform of a serviceman who came to the funeral of fallen soldier Oleh Sadyk on June 18, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Image copyright: Valentyna Polishchuk/Contributor/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While the Azov Brigade has a checkered past, much of that has changed since it became absorbed into Ukraine's National Guard and recruited 5K new soldiers since Russia's invasion. This lifting of the ban will mean that some of Ukraine's best defenders have the weapons they need and should turn into tangible results on the battlefield.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though Western media openly reported about Azov's far-right ideology prior to the Russian invasion, much of that has since been whitewashed — although these neo-Nazi elements remain. This is because mainstream media is now more concerned with justifying the West's proxy war with Russia than doing honest journalism.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 33% chance that Russian territory will be reduced by at least 1% before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
