On May 2, Odessa commemorates the eighth anniversary of the tragic events of 2014, when there was a confrontation between pro-Russian activists and Ukrainian patriots.
Then, as a result of street fighting and a fire in the House of Trade Unions , 48 people were killed, dozens were injured.
TSN.ua talks about the fateful events of that day.
What happened on May 2, 2014
In Odessa, there were confrontations between pro-Russian activists and Ukrainian patriots. The fights were the most massive in the recent history of Odessa. They started at Cathedral Square, where pro-Ukrainian activists, along with football ultras, were supposed to start a march “For a United Ukraine”.
However, they were attacked by a group of people from the Anti-Maidan, who used stun grenades and weapons. Then six people died in the city center. Eventually, the pro-Russian supporters began to retreat and gather at the Kulikovo field, where there was a tent city. Some pro-Russian people barricaded themselves in the shopping center.
On the Kulikovo field, tents first caught fire from Molotov cocktails, and then the fire spread to the building of the House of Trade Unions, where the anti-Maidanists decided to hide. As a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and falling from a height, another 42 people died.
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According to experts, the fire at the barricade, which was located at the main entrance to the House of Trade Unions, as well as in the building itself, started from “the inside, when the people in the room began to throw bottles in order to make it impossible for their opponents to hit them.
The Council of Europe talked about collusion between the police and separatists during the then bloody skirmishes.
Every year in Odessa honor the memory of the dead
Provocations often occur during mass events . It is forbidden to use anti-Ukrainian symbols.
However, during mass events on May 2, 2019, provocateurs still came to Kulikovo Field in clothes with Soviet signs and the Russian tricolor, but after a few minutes they explained their act to the regional department.
Security measures
Every year, the police and the National Guardsmen work hard on May 2. During the war between Russia and Ukraine, the enemy can prepare provocations and involve even Transnistria in them. This became known from the issue of the city newspaper “PMR”, dated May 2, 2022.
Reuters
“On the eve of May 2, a campaign continues to loosen Odessa, the border regions and attempts to incite pro-Russian forces. Thus, information was received promptly about a sabotage preparation – the circulation of the newspaper “Pridnestrovie” dated May 2, 2022 with an alleged official appeal of the inhabitants of Pridnestrovie to Putin with a request for protection from the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The actions of the enemy forces were discredited by the announcement of this provocation,” said Vladislav Nazarov, a representative of the “South” operational command.
In addition, a curfew is introduced in Odessa for a day and a half. It will run from 22:00 May 1 to 05:00 May 3. It is noted that the restrictions will apply only in the city, they will not apply to the region.
Recall that residents of the unrecognized Transnistria are fleeing to Odessa because they trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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