Archive of the Azov Battalion: Unregulated Documentation of the Azov Volunteer Battalion for May–September 2014

The article reviews the documents of the archive of unregulated documentation of the Azov Volunteer Battalion for May-September 2014, recently recorded in the Central state archive of public associations of Ukraine. The aim of the publication is to determine the information potential of these documents, in particular their role in studying the history of the unit, the Ukrainian volunteer movement and the initial stage of hostilities in sector «M» of the Anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine as a whole. The research methodology involves the application of the principles of historicism, the usage of studying whole historical sources and being objective. Descriptive method, methods of classifi cation and systematization as well as methods of analysis and synthesis have been used. The scientifi c novelty is conditioned by the high source value of the documents of the Azov Battalion Archive, which are currently completely unexplored within the framework of academic science; these documents are introduced into scientifi c circulation for the fi rst time. The prospects of further research are that by studying the contents of the documents of this archive we can reproduce in detail the history of the unit from its initial recruitment to transformation into a regiment of the same name, including formation, participation in hostilities, structure, personnel, internal organization reform and other features of the unit. In addition, the study of the content of these documents makes it possible to assess the impact of the unit’s activities on key military and political events in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The conclusions. Due to the study of documents, the important role of the Azov Battalion Archive in studying the history of the Azov Volunteer Battalion and its infl uence on the course of hostilities in eastern Ukraine was determined. The information potential of these archive is signifi cant, as it consists of documents containing unique information that is not available in any other sources, so these documents cover previously unexplored aspects not only of the history of a volunteer unit, but also key historical events in Ukraine in May-September 2014. References: 1. Azovska dokumentatsiia batalionnykh chasiv pryiniata do Tsentralnoho Derzharkhivu hromadskykh obiednan [The Azov documentation of battalion times has been accepted by the Central State Archives of Public Associations]. Azov. Retrieved from: https://azov.org.ua/azovska-dokymentacia-prujniata-do-cdago/ [in Ukrainian].2. Polk «Azov» poyasnil znachenie simvola na svoem shevrone [The Azov regiment explained the meaning of the symbol on its chevron]. National Correspondent. Retrieved from: https://nackor.org/en/znachenie-na-shevrone [in Russian].3. Pro zvilnennia politviazniv: Postanova Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy vid 24 liutoho 2014 r. № 786-VII (vtratyla chynnist 14.03.2014 r.) [On the release of political prisoners: The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Resolution, dated February 24, 2014 № 786-VII (expired on March 14, 2014)]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/786-VII#Text [in Ukrainian].4. Кhomerikki, M. (Comp.) (2016). Shyrokynska operatsiia. Spohady uchasnykiv nastupu [Shyrokynska military operation. The memories shared by the fighters who participated in the offensive]. Kyiv–Мariupol–Mena: Dominanta. [in Ukrainian]. 5. Stasyuk, Yu. М. (2018) Ukrainski dobrovolchi formuvannia: stvorennia ta funktsionuvannia (2014–2015 rr.) [Ukrainian volunteer formations: their establishment and functioning (2014–2015)] (Candidate’s thesis). [in Ukrainian]. 6. Tysk na perlynu Azovskoho Rukhu – «Kozatskyi Dim» [Pressure on the pearl of the Azov Movement – the «Cossack House»]. National Correspondent. Retrieved from: https://nationalcorps.org/tysk-na-perlynu-azovsjkogho-rukhu-kozacjkyj-dim/ [in Ukrainian].7. Кravchenko, M. (Comp.) (2018). Vyzvolennia Mariupolia. Fotozbirka viiskovoi memuarystyky [Liberation of Mariupol. Photo collection of military memoirs]. Kyiv: Orienteer. [in Ukrainian].