FORMER Downend MP Jack Lopresti has revealed he is serving in Ukraine’s best known military unit.
Mr Lopresti, who first joined Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion last year, says he has now joined the 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, known for its role in the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
Announcing the move on social media in late February, the former Conservative Party deputy chairman said he was “honoured” to join the brigade, describing it as “a symbol of resilience and uncompromising principle”.
Mr Lopresti, who lost his Filton & Bradley Stoke seat to Labour’s Claire Hazelgrove in the 2024 general election, served in the defence intelligence section of the International Legion of Ukraine before joining the Azov Brigade.
The former UK Territorial Army soldier, who spent five months in Afghanistan in 2008-9, said: “To have served in what I consider two of Ukraine’s finest military formations is one of the greatest honours of my life.
“Azov was formed in 2014 in response to Russia’s aggression. It began with volunteers, many without prior military experience, driven by conviction rather than obligation. Over time, it evolved into a benchmark for modern warfare, defined by innovation, frontline medical care, relentless training and a clear focus on the motivated, well-prepared soldier as the decisive factor.
“In 2022, the defence of Mariupol showed the world exactly what Azov stands for: resistance under impossible conditions.
“Today, the Ukrainian military is not only defending its own sovereignty, it is also the frontline guarantee of Europe’s security. What happens here will shape the future of the free world.
“Ukraine continues to resist. Ukraine stands firm. Together, we will prevail. Slava Ukraini!”
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Azov Brigade was at the centre of some of the fiercest fighting as it fought to defend the coastal city of Mariupol, where it was based.
Russian forces outnumbered Ukrainian fighters by more than three to one, and carried out heavy bombing that killed thousands of civilians, including in a maternity hospital and the city’s theatre.
The Azov Brigade is controversial because of its links to far-right groups when it was founded in 2014, and its use of symbols that were also used by Nazi units during the Second World War. Commentators are divided over whether it still has far-right links.
The Voice has asked Mr Lopresti for his view of the controversy.