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| Fire in Odessa building of Trade Unions (Image: TSN) |
Situation in
Eastern Ukraine, where the pro-Russian separatists and terrorists and Russian
forces continue to control several cities, destabilizing the situation in the
country, remains extremely tense, as Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guard
have started there the next active phase of an anti-terrorist operation,
regaining control over several cities and blocking the terrorists. But despite
the successes of Ukrainian security forces in Eastern Ukraine, the attempts to
destabilize Ukrainian Southern-Eastern regions continue.
Ukrainian
coastal city of Odessa, located in Southern Ukraine, has witnessed on Friday, 2
May, terrible clashes and skirmishes between the pro-Ukrainian activists and
patriots and pro-Russian and separatist forces, leading to a terrible tragedy
for the city with dozens of dead and more than 200 injured.
Ukrainian march
to support unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, led by
local Odessa and by Kharkiv Ultras, was attacked by the heavily armed
pro-Russian forces and separatists, who were carrying automatic weapons, rifles
and guns. Eye-witnesses and local Euromaidan activists reported that these
supporters of Russia and federalization came to Ukrainian march fully equipped
for war, as if they have been preparing for these clashes in advance.
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| Violent clashes in Odessa (Image: TSN) |
Pro-Russian and
separatist forces have attacked Ukrainian demonstration suddenly, throwing
Molotov cocktails at the people, using sound and smoke bombs and shooting the
demonstrators with live ammunition, as local police was unable to stop the
clashes and to disperse the crowds. The police actually have been supporting
the separatist forces, refusing to react to the attacks and shooting, what was
captured and documented by several cameras during the clashes.
The clashes
started at about 3 p.m. local time and lasted till the late night hours, as the
fierce mayhem was ongoing, and pro-Russian snipers, located on the roofs of the
neighboring buildings, started to shoot the demonstrators and Euromaidan
activists. The clashes left at least 7 people dead and dozens of wounded.
Killing of
Ukrainian activists in these violent clashes provoked a wave of rage of the
pro-Ukrainian forces, as they responded the separatists and Russia’s supporters
with the stones and Molotov cocktails and started to chase pro-Russian
activists from the downtown of the city. The main camp of Odessa AntiMaidan and
pro-Russian forces was totally destroyed and burnt down by the pro-Ukrainian
forces. Terrified separatists and pro-Russian activists escaped the people’s rage
and rushed to the building of Trade Unions, where they appeared to be blocked.
Clashes continued, with the Molotov cocktails being thrown from the both sides.
There were reports of continuous shooting from the roof and upper floors of the
Trade Unions building, where the separatists were located.
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| Violent clashes in Odessa (Image: Radio Svoboda) |
The building of
Trade Unions was set on fire later, though the reasons and origins of this fire
are still unknown and unconfirmed. Several videos of the journalists being on
the ground there demonstrated though that the fire has started on the third
floor of the building and inside. Fire was the cause of the dozens deaths in
Odessa Trade Unions building, as some people have died from suffocation and
from the smoke, while others have jumping from the windows. According to the
official information of Ukrainian Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health,
38 people have died in the fire in Trade Unions building, while the activists
and eyewitnesses claim there are more.
Investigations
are ongoing, and Ukrainian police and SBU (Intelligence service) have opened
more than 10 criminal cases regarding the violent clashes in Odessa and have
arrested 167 people involved in the provocations and accused of organizing and
starting the clashes. Ukrainian SBU head Mr. Makhnitsky reported that there are
Russian and Transnstrian citizens among those people. At least 20 victims of
Friday’s fire in Odessa Trade Unions building were already identified, as 15 of
them appeared to be Russian and 5 – Transnistrian citizens as well. In addition
to that Ukrainian police and SBU claimed to have evidences of Russian
involvement in the horrible clashes in Odessa. He regional head of Odessa
police Petro Lutsyuk was dismissed due to the recent events in Odessa. More
details are expected to be presented soon, as investigation is ongoing in order
to identify the forces, on Russian and Ukrainian sides as well, participating
in, organizing and sponsoring the pro-separatists and violent clashes and
activities in Ukraine, aimed to destabilize the situation, to disrupt the
upcoming presidential elections and to push Ukraine towards the war conflict.
On Saturday, the
next day after violent clashes and fire in Odessa, local residents and
activists come to commemorate the slain protesters and dead people, bringing
flowers to the place of clashes. Three days mourning was declared in Ukraine,
with all the celebratory events and programs cancelled.
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| Building of Trade Unions in Odessa after fire (Image: IPress) |
Ukrainian side
was immediately accused by Russia of being behind the clashes in Odessa, as
Russian officials stated that the “punitive operation of Kyiv junta against
Ukrainian citizens” is unacceptable, using their rhetoric in condemning
Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation carried out in Eastern Ukraine and
forgetting that there were no military or special securities forces operations
in Odessa or other Southern Ukrainian cities as well. EU and USA in their turn
have supported Ukraine and its anti-terrorist operation, stating that Ukraine
has the full right to defend its territory and people, while the message to Russia
was clear: stop interfering in Ukrainian internal affairs and withdraw all
Russian troops and pro-Russian forces from Ukrainian soil.
Thus, despite
the tense situation in Eastern Ukraine and ongoing fights with the Russian
terrorists and pro-Russian separatists, that continue on Saturday, 3 May, the
attempts to destabilize the Southern region of Ukraine and its stronghold
Odessa have failed at the moment. But the new provocations are expected to
happen in other Ukrainian cities during the May holidays, that’s why Ukrainian
officials and activists as well urge Ukrainians to avoid big gatherings and
meetings these days.
Written for Valerie Magaine.
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