Former Ukrainian Neo-Nazi Fighter Featured in Netflix Show
Season 7 of the reality dating series ‘Love is Blind’ includes a participant who previously served in the Ukrainian neo-Nazi Azov unit. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A retired US Marine who previously served in Ukraine's infamous Azov Battalion is among the participants in the latest season of Netflix's reality dating show 'Love is Blind.'
The streaming service released the first six episodes of the seventh season on Wednesday, centering around the concept of single individuals choosing whether to marry their selected partner before meeting in person.
Among the cast is Bohdan Olinares, introduced as a “proud immigrant and Ukrainian refugee” who feels grateful to be living “the American dream.” He is in search of a partner capable of “embracing his history and unique upbringing.”
“The former Marine was previously married for five years, which he considers the craziest thing he’s done for love,” states the show’s description. “Since then, Bohdan has become crystal clear about what he’s searching for thanks to the power of time and therapy.”
At 36 years old, Olinares was interviewed last year by Voice of America, a US state-funded news outlet, which reported on his return to Ukraine to join the Azov Battalion—a unit that has a controversial history rooted in neo-Nazi ideologies and connections to far-right movements globally.
Having left Ukraine at the age of two, he reached out to the Ukrainian Embassy shortly after hostilities with Russia intensified in February 2022 to offer his assistance. In footage shared by VOA, a patch representing the Azov special operations branch is visible among his memorabilia.
His former employer, Virginia-based IT firm F5, noted that Olinares spent six months in Ukraine. Their account mentions that he returned because Azov “had more than tripled in size” and had sufficient personnel ready to fight against Russia.
Online footage shows Olinares alongside fellow Azov members, playfully discussing his charm as a lover with an interest in Ukrainian women.
Members of the Azov Battalion have been accused of various atrocities before and during the ongoing conflict with Russia. While the unit has attempted to rebrand as the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, claiming to have distanced itself from its neo-Nazi roots, former and current Western officials have been engaged in efforts to rehabilitate its image.
In Russia, Azov is designated as a terrorist organization, with its members labeled as fascists.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
The streaming service released the first six episodes of the seventh season on Wednesday, centering around the concept of single individuals choosing whether to marry their selected partner before meeting in person.
Among the cast is Bohdan Olinares, introduced as a “proud immigrant and Ukrainian refugee” who feels grateful to be living “the American dream.” He is in search of a partner capable of “embracing his history and unique upbringing.”
“The former Marine was previously married for five years, which he considers the craziest thing he’s done for love,” states the show’s description. “Since then, Bohdan has become crystal clear about what he’s searching for thanks to the power of time and therapy.”
At 36 years old, Olinares was interviewed last year by Voice of America, a US state-funded news outlet, which reported on his return to Ukraine to join the Azov Battalion—a unit that has a controversial history rooted in neo-Nazi ideologies and connections to far-right movements globally.
Having left Ukraine at the age of two, he reached out to the Ukrainian Embassy shortly after hostilities with Russia intensified in February 2022 to offer his assistance. In footage shared by VOA, a patch representing the Azov special operations branch is visible among his memorabilia.
His former employer, Virginia-based IT firm F5, noted that Olinares spent six months in Ukraine. Their account mentions that he returned because Azov “had more than tripled in size” and had sufficient personnel ready to fight against Russia.
Online footage shows Olinares alongside fellow Azov members, playfully discussing his charm as a lover with an interest in Ukrainian women.
Members of the Azov Battalion have been accused of various atrocities before and during the ongoing conflict with Russia. While the unit has attempted to rebrand as the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, claiming to have distanced itself from its neo-Nazi roots, former and current Western officials have been engaged in efforts to rehabilitate its image.
In Russia, Azov is designated as a terrorist organization, with its members labeled as fascists.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
