Overview
- Images published on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s social media show him awarding National Guard personnel whose uniforms bear patches resembling SS emblems.
- A banner visible in the award setting appears similar to the insignia associated with the 2nd SS Panzer Division “Reich,” according to descriptions of the photos.
- University of Southeast Norway professor Glenn Diesen criticized the awards on X, saying the SS emblem should prompt condemnation rather than excuses.
- RIA Novosti reports that Western commentators voiced concern over the use of extremist symbols featured in the president’s posted images.
- Le Monde previously reported identifying more than 300 Ukrainian fighters using Nazi symbols, including some trained in Western countries, and these articles include no official response from Kyiv.