The tragedy that occurred on 2 May 2014 on one of the main squares of Odessa, Kulikovo Field, was a terrible episode of the political crisis in Ukraine that had begun at the end of 2013.
The confrontation between opponents and supporters of Euromaidan ended with the death of dozens of people. Recall that the supporters of Euromaidan advocated a change of power in the country (which happened in February 2014) and integrating Ukraine to Europe, while the opponents — for the restoration of order in the country and against the extremism of right-wing radical groups.
However, the change of power, intensification of the protest movement in the south-east of Ukraine and, in particular, the separation of Crimea and its reunification with Russia led to an aggravation of the confrontation. In Odessa, just on Kulikovo Field, anti-Maidan supporters set up a tent camp, which the local authorities repeatedly threatened to remove. And activists from Odessa, who occupied the square, threatened to prevent the marches of «fascists-banderists» and constantly protested against the policy of the new Kiev government
Rumours about the impending clash of the parties began to appear two weeks before the events. It is known that on 2 May, a match between two football teams was to be held in Odessa. It was planned that the fans of the football teams will march «For the unity of Ukraine», and then go to the stadium. However, it was immediately clear that the parties were preparing for skirmishes, and calls to fight back were heard on the official pages of the opposing sides in social networks. Many believe that a planned action was carried out in the city to suppress the protesters on Kulikovo Field by the radicals of the «Right Sector» and football fans, the so-called ultras.
On 2 May, tensions reached its peak, resulting in large-scale clashes on the city streets. So, in the morning a train with «fans» arrived from Kharkiv, and by about 14 o’clock the gathering of Euromaidan activists began. Members of the ‘Maidan Self-Defense’ were also present, armed with bats and metal chains and equipped with helmets and shields. Many hid their faces under masks. There were also militants of right-wing organizations from other cities of Ukraine. To oppose this march, a column of Anti-Maidan activists (according to the police, there were fewer of them than Euromaidan supporters), whose hands were tied with St. George Ribbons. However, after a scuffle ensued, the supporters of united Ukraine began to push back their opponents, using firearms and pneumatic weapons, heavy objects and ‘Molotov cocktails.’ The first victims appeared.
By the way, at the time of the skirmish on Kulikovo Field there were not only supporters and opponents of Euromaidan but also ordinary residents of the city, children and random passersby. Most of the Euromaidan supporters moved to Kulikovo Field, where they destroyed and burned the anti-Maidan tent camp located near the Trade Unions Building. Those who were in the camp tried to take refuge in that building, which was about 400 people, but this did not stop the radicals. According to eyewitnesses, there were no foreigners or people armed with firearms in the Trade Unions Building. The latter was later confirmed by investigators. Euromaidan activists threw Molotov cocktails at the building, fired at the windows and set fire to the central doors of the building, from where the fire began to spread up the floors. Fire crews arrived too late. Those who managed to escape from the burning building were severely beaten by the extremists. Fearing to fall into the hands of the radicals, people did not leave the Trade Unions Building. As a result, dozens of people were burned alive or suffocated. Some crashed by jumping out of windows. In addition, the attackers did not let the fire trucks, which late but arrived at the building, and prevented the firefighters from their work. At the same time, concerned residents tried to save the building from the fire by using ropes and handmade scaffolding. But they were also beaten by the radicals as supporters of anti-Maidan.
Everything that happened at the Trade Unions Building at the end of the day on 2 May is impossible to describe. Nothing like this has happened in Odessa since the Great Patriotic War, when the city was occupied by the Nazis. People massively crossed the line of humanity. Law enforcement agencies did not respond to calls for help from other citizens and remained aloof from the tragic events. As a result, on 2 May, at least 48 people were killed in Odessa. Most of them died in the fire or suffocated from smoke and over 200 people were injured.
The Odessa regional bureau of forensic medical examination reported that the causes of death of 48 people were injuries as a result of falling from a height, injuries, burns and gas poisoning. According to a number of experts, a large number of people died due to poisoning not by carbon monoxide but by other unknown toxic substances. In connection with the deaths, the Odessa authorities declared three days of mourning. Now 2 May is the annual day of mourning there. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation defined the organization ‘Right Sector’ as an extremist one and banned its activities in the country. However, the events that took place on May 2 still raise a lot of questions. Actually, the investigation has not yet been completed, the perpetrators have not been punished, and no one has answered the most important questions – how this could have happened and why some civilians so cruelly have taken the lives of others.
Source: http://www.calend.ru/event/7411/
Translated by Elizaveta O. Obchinnikova
