Ukraine: pro-Russian activists storm Odessa police station
Pro-Russian separatists storm a Ukrainian police station in Odessa and free 30 fellow activists as unrest continues in eastern Ukraine.
“Russians won’t abandon their own!” militants chanted as they smashed windows and broke down the gate at the compound, where comrades had been held since Friday’s mayhem. Others shouted “Russia! Russia!” and “we will not forgive!” Odessa police said 30 activists had been released.
Some police officers were offered the black and orange St. George’s ribbon, a Russian military insignia that has become a symbol of the revolt, and were cheered when they accepted it.
As rebellion simmered, questions were raised about the ability of the army as well as police to confront an uprising Kiev says is backed by Moscow and led in the field by Russian special forces – an accusation the Kremlin denies.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces on Sunday were gaining control of checkpoints around the eastern town of Slaviansk – but had yet to enter the town.
Police in the eastern port of Mariupol said pro-Russian rebels had tricked soldiers at a checkpoint into eating food laced with a sleeping potion. The soldiers were then bundled off along with their weapons, prompting long talks to free them.
Mariupol
According to Russia Today (RT), troops surrounded an administrative building being held by anti-government protestors. A video (below) was later posted online appearing to show a bank set ablaze.
Troops also were seen forcing their way through self-defence check-points near the Donetsk Region town of Konstantinovka.
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking in Odessa on the western, Black Sea stretch of Ukraine’s coast, accused Russia of engineering Friday’s clashes there that led to the deaths of more than 40 pro-Russian activists in a blazing building. But he was pointedly critical of the police.
“If the law enforcement system in Odessa had worked not exclusively on the ‘Seventh Kilometre’ and had protected people, then these terrorist organisations would have been foiled.”
Outright civil war in Ukraine and the division would have serious implications for countries around, not least for Russia and for NATO states bordering it.
“There were dozens of casualties resulting from a well prepared and organised action against people, against Ukraine and against Odessa,” said Mr Yatsenyuk.
The revolution turns bureaucratic. The People’s Republic of #Donetsk now insisting on press accreditation. pic.twitter.com/d1eMO3aGfg
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) May 4, 2014
Friday’s deaths occurred after running clashes, involving petrol bombs and gunfire, between supporters and opponents of Moscow on the streets of Odessa, where the majority of people speak Russian. The pro-Russian activists were trapped in a building as it burned down.
It was not clear who had thrown the petrol bombs that started the fire but pro-Russian demonstrators at the police station on Sunday blamed pro-Kiev activists.
About 300 pro-Russian activists forced their way into the Odessa police station, gathering in the courtyard, while about a thousand more surrounded the modern complex.
