You're reading: National Guard regiments Azov, Donbas to return to frontline – Ukrainian interior minister’s adviser

The return of the National Guard's special-task regiments Azov and Donbas to the frontline in the war-torn zone in eastern Ukraine is justified, Zorian Shkiriak, adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said.

“We are talking primarily about an operative rapid reaction brigade of the National Guard and the special-task regiments Azov and Donbas. They will return to the frontline and will fulfill their functions of direct contact with the enemy,” Shkiriak was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry press service on its official Facebook page on June 22.

These units more than once proved their high combat readiness and effectiveness at the beginning of the conflict in Donbas, he said.

“Now that the conflict has escalated again, the positions of the Ukrainian army come under fire daily […], the activity of the enemy’s sabotage groups and snipers has increased. For this reason, the return of volunteers who once […] underwent professional military training is justified,” Shkiriak said.