Jump to content

2 May 2014 Odessa clashes: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 89: Line 89:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9AMjLBIliw Одесса дом профсоюзов ПОЛНОЕ ВИДЕО] ([[Youtube]])
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9AMjLBIliw Одесса дом профсоюзов ПОЛНОЕ ВИДЕО] ([[Youtube]])
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1OqU3abolg Video: Odessa Trade Unions building on fire with dozens of activists blocked inside]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1OqU3abolg Video: Odessa Trade Unions building on fire with dozens of activists blocked inside]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1neAJT4Hs
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1neAJT4Hs]([[Youtube]])
([[Youtube]])




Revision as of 21:37, 3 May 2014

2 May clashes in Odessa
Part of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
Date2 May 2014
Location
Odessa, Ukraine
Caused by
Methods
  • Running battles[1]
  • Demonstrations[1]
Resulted inTrade Union House gutted
Parties
Ukraine Pro-Ukrainian demonstrators[2]
Pro-Russian activists[3]
Transnistria Russian nationals[4]
Casualties and losses
Deaths: 46[5]
(mostly pro-Russian,[6] 6 pro-Ukrainian[7])
Injuries: 214[5]
Arrests: 172[4]

As part of the rising unrest in Ukraine in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian groups broke out in different streets and squares in Odessa on 2 May 2014.[8][9][10][11]

Background

Main article: 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Unrest griped largely Russophone eastern and southern Ukraine in the aftermath of the Euromaidan movement and the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Odessa Oblast remained mostly calm, with sporadic demonstrations by pro-Maidan, anti-Maidan and pro-Russian groups.[12] As the situation increasingly deteriorated in Donetsk Oblast, pro-Maidan protesters held a rally for a united Ukraine in Odessa.[1]

Events

A rally was held by about 1,500 people (at least partly Chornomorets fans[13]) demonstrating for national unity in Sobornaya Square.[2] According to authorities, a bus of pro-Russian separatists was detained while trying to enter the city; the group aboard was immediately released into the city on the order of a high ranking police official.[14]

Escalation into clashes

This rally was later attacked by a pro-Russian mob armed with bats.[15][16] Both sides fought running battles against each other, exchanging stones and petrol bombs, and built barricades throughout the city during the afternoon.[13] The pro-Russian side was armed, and eyewitness accounts claim the first victim was a pro-Ukraine protester shot with an automatic weapon.[17][18]

Trade Unions House fire

A view of the Trade Unions House, on Kulikovo Field, prior to the unrest
Pro-Russian encampment outside the Trade Union House

The pro-Russian militants were later overwhelmed by the pro-Ukrainian demonstrators, and their encampment outside the Trade Unions House building was torched.[19][20] This forced the pro-Russian forces to enter that building, and occupy it.[19] The building is five-storeys tall, and is the headquarters of the Odessa regional federation of trade unions.[21] It is located on Kulikovo Field, in the city centre.[21]

Whilst defending the building, militants on the roof tossed rocks and petrol bombs at the protesters below, and also opened fire upon them.[20][22] However, an official report conducted by the police stated that no weapons were found inside the building.[23] After being fired upon,[24] the pro-Ukraine crowd began to throw petrol bombs into the building.[13][25] Preliminary findings from an Interior Ministry investigation suggest that pro-Russian separatists accidentally set the building on fire with Molotov cocktails.[26]

The fire started on the second and third floors of the building, and quickly spread.[21] Thirteen units of fire and rescue apparatus were sent to the scene, but were prevented from operating because of the large number of people gathered around the building.[21] Fifty pro-Russian militants remained on the roof, barricading themselves in and refusing to leave, while others were seen attempting to jump out of the windows.[27][28]

Casualties

Thirty-one people died whilst trapped in the burning Trade Unions House.[29] In total, forty-three people died in one day as a result of the clashes.[30] Police said at least three people were shot dead.[29][31][32] Hospital staff reported that 174 were injured, and twenty-five were in critical condition.[33] 172 people were reported arrested as a result of the conflict, and thirty-eight pro-Russian militants were arrested by police after they had evacuated the burning building.[4][34]

A TSN correspondent reported that of those who died in the fire, fifteen were Russian citizens and five were from Transnistria.[35] Odessa City Council deputy Dmitry Spivak also stated that some of the rioters were from Transnistria.[36] The Interior Ministry stated that the identity of most of the victims had not been determined on 2 May, despite these reports.[37] The Odessa office of the Interior Ministry issued a statement on 3 May, saying that eight of those who died in the fire were identified, and that all of them were from Odessa.[38]

Vladimir Nemirovsky, chairman of the Odessa regional government, stated that the conflict could have been avoided had police fulfilled their duties, and accused police of inciting the confrontation and taking bribes to switch allegiance to the separatists' side. Several police were seen donning the red armbands worn by pro-Russian rioters.[39]

Aftermath

Both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian demonstrators gathered outside the burnt Trade Unions House on the day after the clashes.[40] There was a heavy police presence, and some minor scuffles between protesters.[40]

The city of Odessa announced that three days of mourning would be held in honour of those who lost their lives in the clashes.[41] Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov followed suit, declaring two days of national mourning for those who died in the clashes, also those who died during a government counter-offensive in Donetsk Oblast.[41]

According to the investigation conducted by the Interior Ministry, the majority of the 172 arrested who have been identified are Russian nationals and residents of Transnistria. Police confiscated a large number of firearms during the arrests. According to the SBU, clashes and riots which took place involved the participation of 'illegal military groups' coordinated in Transnistria by groups from Russia.[4]

Reactions

  •  Russian Federation – Russia's Foreign Ministry said that the fire was "yet another manifestation of the criminal irresponsibility of the Kiev authorities who indulge insolent radical nationalists … which are engaging in a campaign of physical terror", against those wanting 'greater autonomy' living in Russian-speaking regions.[42]
  •  Ukraine – Ukrainian politician Dmytro Spivak claimed that "It is abundantly clear that the pro-Russian side was very well armed, well organized and that this action was planned long ago." He also said that "I will only say one thing to Putin; forget about Odessa."[43]
  •  United States - U.S. State Department: "The United States today mourns with all Ukrainians the heartbreaking loss of life in Odesa. Today the international community must stand together in support of the Ukrainian people as they cope with this tragedy".[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dozens die in Odessa, rebels down Ukraine helicopters". Reuters. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Pro-Ukrainians, pro-Russians clash in Odessa". Global Post. Agence France-Presse. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  3. ^ Ukraine clashes: dozens dead after Odessa building fire
  4. ^ a b c d "MIA: Most of the detainees in Odessa - Russian citizens and residents of Transnistria". UNIAN. 3 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Death toll reaches 46 people, 125 injured in Odesa clashes, fire
  6. ^ Clashes at Ukraine's Odessa kill at least 43
  7. ^ Police say 42 killed in Odessa in worst violence of Ukraine crisis
  8. ^ Ukraine crisis: Dozens killed in Odessa fire amid clashes
  9. ^ At least 35 killed in Odessa, Ukraine, as building set on fire
  10. ^ 4 dead in Ukraine’s Odessa as pro- and anti-Maidan rallies clash
  11. ^ Pro-Russia, Pro-Kiev Activists Clash in Odessa
  12. ^ "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine" (Press release). Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Ukraine suffers deadliest day in months; 34 killed in Odessa". The Washington Post. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  14. ^ http://www.unian.net/politics/914082-odesskiy-gubernator-vozlojil-otvetstvennost-za-smerti-na-militsiyu.html
  15. ^ "Dozens killed in building fire in Odessa, ministry says". The Guardian. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Dozens killed in Odessa fire amid clashes". BBC News. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Вчера в Одессе сепаратисты расстреливали проукраинских митингующих. Фотофакт (Yesterday in Odessa separatists shot pro-Ukrainian protesters)". News of Donbass (in Russian). 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  18. ^ "On the Internet there Odessa photo armed separatists". Liga News. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  19. ^ a b "В Одессе проукраинские активисты ликвидировали лагерь сепаратистов (In Odessa, the pro-Ukrainian activists eliminated the separatists)". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (in Russian). 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  20. ^ a b Amos, Howard (2 May 2014). "Dozens reported dead after Odessa building fire". The Guardian.
  21. ^ a b c d "В Доме профсоюзов в Одессе найдено 36 трупов - ГСЧС (In the House of Trade Unions in Odessa found 36 corpses - GSCHS)". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  22. ^ http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/473754/Dozens-killed-by-smoke-as-Ukraine-moves-closer-to-civil-war
  23. ^ http://www.unn.com.ua/ru/news/1337991-v-militsiyi-nazivayut-domislami-informatsiyu-pro-nibito-zagiblikh-v-odesi-rosiyan-i-pridnistrovtsiv
  24. ^ http://www.unian.net/politics/914095-kak-gorel-dom-profsoyuzov-v-odesse.html#ad-image-0
  25. ^ "Dozens killed in Odessa fire amid clashes". BBC News. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  26. ^ http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/sbu-russia-behind-kidnapping-of-osce-military-observers-updates-videos-346066.html
  27. ^ "31 people die after radicals set Trade Unions House on fire in Ukraine's Odessa". Russia Today. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  28. ^ http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/v-odesi-separatisti-zabarikaduvalisya-na-dahu-a-v-budivli-promishlyayut-maroderi-347950.html
  29. ^ a b "Ukraine Chaos Spreads to Odessa as 38 Killed in Fire Related to Unrest". Voice of America. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  30. ^ http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/krivavi-sutichki-v-odesi-zabrali-zhittya-43-osib-25-perebuvayut-u-tyazhkomu-stani-347951.html
  31. ^ http://timer.od.ua/news/ofitsial_no_na_kulikovom_pole_pogib_31_chelovek_na_grecheskoy_chetvero_ostorojno_foto_415.html
  32. ^ http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/2/7024213/
  33. ^ "У лікарнях Одеси - більше 170 постраждалих (Hospitals in Odessa - more than 170 injured)". The Insider (in Ukrainian). 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  34. ^ http://timer.od.ua/news/boynya_na_kulikovom_pole_militsiya_zaderjala_38_antimaydanovtsev_583.html
  35. ^ "Наразі пожежа вже ліквідована, проте її причини досі невідомі". TSN.ua. 2 May 2014.
  36. ^ http://unimedia.info/stiri/video-ciocniri-violente-in-odesa-cel-putin-38-de-morti-75866.html
  37. ^ "В міліції називають домислами інформацію про нібито загиблих в Одесі росіян і придністровців". Українські національні новини. 3 May 2014.
  38. ^ Опознаны восемь погибших в Доме профсоюзов в Одессе – все одесситы, Interfax-Ukraine, 3 May 2014| language=Russian
  39. ^ "Odessa police officers appear involved in bloody riots". TCH (in Ukrainian). 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  40. ^ a b "Russia sympathisers vent anger at Ukraine Odessa deaths". BBC News. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  41. ^ a b "Odessa slaughter: How vicious mob burnt anti-govt activists alive". Russia Today. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  42. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/02/police-38-dead-in-protes_n_5255399.html
  43. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/us-ukraine-crisis-odessa-fire-idUSBREA410RP20140502
  44. ^ "Tragic Loss of Life in Odesa" (Press release). United States Department of State. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.


Template:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2_May_2014_Odessa_clashes&oldid=606947918"