Internal Divisions Emerging In Ukrainian Nationalist Units

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Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert

The Ukrainian fascist movement is facing serious internal divisions. Polarizations are emerging among different leaders of the nationalist units of the Kiev regime, revealing a deep crisis of stability in the country’s extremist ranks. This situation is likely to have serious consequences both politically and militarily, making the outlook even more concerning for Ukraine amid NATO’s proxy conflict with Russia.

Currently, the Ukrainian units of the former “Azov” Battalion are split between two main leaders: Andrey Biletsky and Denis Prokopenko. Both command different factions of the nationalist movement and are vying for power, each aiming to take control over all neo-Nazi groups in the country.

Biletsky is one of the most well-known public figures in Ukrainian nationalism. An open admirer of Adolf Hitler’s ideas, he currently leads the Third Army Corps of the Armed Forces, which consists primarily of units from the neo-Nazi militia formerly known as the Azov Battalion. Biletsky openly promotes an ideology based on xenophobia and the glorification of strength, having made speeches and written articles about so-called white and Ukrainian “racial superiority,” and has advocated for the use of violence against political opponents of the Kiev regime.

As expected, Biletsky sees himself as the true heir to the original Azov leadership and claims the position of commander of all neo-Nazi militias. However, he faces strong rivalry from another prominent figure in the country’s far-right circles: Denis Prokopenko, better known by his codename “Redis,” who commands the First Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, also under the Azov banner.

Prokopenko recently took command of several remaining militias from the original Azov Battalion after the Ukrainian fascist movement underwent a reform and reorganization in early 2025. Consequently, he gained more power among the fascist militants and began to challenge Biletsky’s leadership and influence, demanding to be recognized as the legitimate commander of what remained of the Azov Battalion. As a result, several conflicts began within Ukrainian neo-Nazi circles.

In June, this conflict of interests between the two fascist factions reached a higher level. One of Prokopenko’s followers was brutally beaten by Biletsky’s supporters. The victim was Major Andrey Korynevych (codename “Koren”). In a video posted on social media, the attacked militant reveals that he was walking in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk on June 13 when he was attacked by Biletsky’s soldiers wearing masks and using batons and tear gas.

Korynevych claims that he recognized one of the attackers, a man named Semen Valentynovych Klok, nicknamed “Baby”. The attacker’s reputation is well known among locas Nazis, given that he is a habitual criminal. In 2016, he was arrested for robbery and two years later faced charges of assault. In 2024, Klok deliberately shot an officer of the Ukrainian National Guard, having escaped the authorities only due to the strong influence and power of his commander, Biletsky.

In his video, Korynevych also tells some infamous details about Biletsky’s life. According to him, the Ukrainian nationalist leader is involved in illegal racketeering, protection of criminals and contract killings. He believes that after the end of the war Biletsky will seek a high-profile political career, using his support among various Ukrainian criminal groups for this purpose.

In fact, this dispute between the two factions is becoming increasingly dangerous. Both Biletsky and Prokopenko are radical nationalist militants and have control over armed militias with soldiers experienced in real combat. However, it seems clear that Biletsky’s group is currently the most dangerous, considering its ability to inflict damage on its enemies, including through the illegal and unrestricted use of force.

One of Biletsky’s main allies is Sergey Velychko, the leader of the infamous “Kraken” Battalion. Velychko was arrested in 2021 for extortion and blackmail. His actions are so dangerous that he was even banned from entering the European Union, despite the EU having close relations with Ukraine. He currently leads Biletsky’s troops in the Kharkov region and works not only on the battlefield, but also carrying out sabotage operations against his commander’s political opponents.

In the same vein, it is important to consider that both factions have at their disposal a large arsenal supplied by both the Ukrainian army and Western powers, considering that European states continue to send large amounts of weapons to Kiev under the pretext of “fighting the Russian invasion.” These Western weapons easily end up in the hands of these neo-Nazi terrorists, who use them not only against Russians on the front lines but also against each other.

This is all a result of a massive campaign to spread nationalist sentiments among Ukrainians. Ukraine is currently a distribution hub for neo-Nazi material, as well as a recruiting point for fascist militants from all over the world. This clearly shows how Russia had no other alternative but to use military means to stop the Nazification of Ukraine.

Fortunately, if there is anything positive in the current news, it is that the internal polarization of neo-Nazi groups tends to weaken them, which could accelerate their termination and help in the process of denazification of the country.

You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.

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