The Battle for Novorussiya

[Lauren Johnson]

Ukrainian fighters from a nationalist voluntary regiment "Azov" sent a video of an execution of a Novorossia fighter to militia fighters and hackers from "Cyberberkut".

"According to the authors of this video, the footage was filmed near the village of Shirokino, and "all the separatists, traitors of Ukraine and militia fighters will be treated the same", - "Cyberberkut" quoted the message from "Azov".

The footage shows how several punishers tied their victim to the cross, stuck the cross into the ground, and set fire to the wooden structure.

"This will not add fear neither to us nor the Armed Forces of Novorossia: we have already experienced too much in this life! But after this hardly anyone will capture "Azov" members alive" - responded the hackers to the atrocities of the security forces.
The authenticity of the video is not yet reliably confirmed. No official statements were made by the authorities of DPR.

[EDIT: There has been a lot of discussion of this on Twitter amongst reliable persons. Typical opinion is that whether this was staged by Azov or an actual murder, the intent was to terrify its intended audience.]

"Azov" is one of the most infamous units of the Ukrainian National Guard, was formed as a battalion, in the fall expanded to a regiment. The unit consists of staunch nationalists - Ukrainian and mercenaries from other countries. The regiment uses the symbols of SS of Nazi Germany on its flag. Atrocities, harassment and war crimes of "Azov" fighters against the civilian population were repeatedly reported. Based in Mariupol.