Carolus Löfroos, whose only formal military training came during a year as a conscript in the Finnish Defence Forces, joined the Azov Battalion last August, the leading Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reported on Friday. Before joining up, the 26-year-old Finnish-Swede worked as a translator in Sundsvall, east-central Sweden.
Löfroos tells the paper he entered the conflict because he wanted to help defend the Ukrainians from attack.
“If Sweden was attacked, I’d hope others would help,” he says. “In August, when it became clear that Russia was interfering in the situation on Eastern Ukraine, I couldn’t remain inactive.”
As he tells it, it was easy to join up. He sent an email to the Azov Battalion and was immediately welcomed.
"Not a mercenary"
Löfroos does not consider himself a mercenary, as he says he receives only a minimal per diem to cover living expenses. He estimates this at 2,000 Swedish crowns or just over 200 euros in total in nearly half a year.
Established last April, Azov Battalion is widely considered to be a far-right-oriented group. Its commander, Andriy Biletsky, also heads two political groups which the paper says have close ties with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Löfroos, however, denies being a right-wing extremist.
“I’m not a Nazi. I consider myself apolitical,” he insists.
Last August Swedish media reported that there were at least four Swedish citizens fighting as part of the Azov Battalion. They include Mikael Skillt, whom DN describes as a neo-Nazi and the operative commander of the Swedes in the battalion.
