Neo-Nazis give Kiev a last line of defence in the east

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Volunteer soldiers of the Azov Battalion take an oath of allegiance to Ukraine in Mariupol

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Volunteer soldiers from new battalion Mariupol take the oath of allegiance to Ukraine during a rally in the south eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Ukraine, 04 September 2014.

Ben Hoyle Mariupol

Last updated at 10:04AM, September 5 2014

On a barren expanse of land high above the shimmering Sea of Azov, a group of heavily armed men, some with their faces covered and at least one sporting a Nazi logo, were preparing for the defence of Mariupol.

When the volunteer Azov Battalion was formed by a white supremacist four months ago they were an alarming curiosity; one more unpredictable consequence of the chaos engulfing Ukraine. Now their 500 fighters are the most visible barrier to the advance of pro-Russian forces on Mariupol, the most important city in southeast Ukraine not in their hands.

They patrol the no-man’s land

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Volunteer soldiers of the Azov Battalion take an oath of allegiance to Ukraine in Mariupol

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 EPA

Volunteer soldiers of the Azov Battalion take an oath of allegiance to Ukraine in Mariupol

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 EPA
A blue and yellow wristband indicating loyalty to Kiev's national flag

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 EPA
A volunteer gives a victory sign to challenge artillery fire from pro-Russian separatists near Mariupol

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 AFP/Getty Images
Lorries, vehicles and shoulder flashes are embellished with the NI battalion logo, which has Nazi connotations

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 AFP/Getty Images
Unmarked military vehicles burn in eastern Ukraine after a clash between separatist rebels and pro-Kiev forces

2014-09-05 00:01:00.0 Sergei Grits/AP

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