Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

May 17, 2014
Gunfire rattles east Ukraine ahead of peace talks to resolve crisis

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine – Sustained gunfire was heard throughout the night near the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk, the stronghold of pro-Russia fighters, ahead of a second round of European-brokered talks on Saturday aimed at resolving the crisis.

The fighting began when forces loyal to the Kyiv government moved in to protect a television tower near the small village of Andriyivka. Residents said it went on through the night.
Debris from the shooting was visible Saturday morning, including a badly damaged train and craters caused by mortar bombs or other heavy artillery.


In one southeastern city, Mariupol, steelworkers retook government buildings from pro-Russia fighters and cleared away their barricades. Mariupol is a major industrial city in the Donetsk region, lying on the main road between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in March.


And in the eastern village of Velyka Novosilka, armed backers of Ukrainian unity dressed in black seized control of a police station and vowed to expel the separatists in Donetsk through force if necessary.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1337849/gu...esolve-crisis/

[Natalka]

Melitopol (South Ukraine), today.
"Ukraine, if you only knew how much I love you"
"United Ukraine"









So beautiful, and that last one is so cute!

[Natalka]

Today, on May 17, the 13th Vyshyvanka (embroidered clothing) parade for a #UnitedUkraine was held in #Kyiv. From the participants words, it is the largest yet held. Several thousand participants took part in the rally.

[Natalka]

For the past while, cities in Ukraine have been repainting their city name signs yellow and blue, colours of the f-l-a-g





Lviv

[Natalka]

While the (new) Crimean government bans Crimean Tatar rallies commemorating the 70th anniversary of their deportation, Kyiv shows solidarity for the tragedy, holding the event 'Light a fire in your heart' on Mykhailivska square on May 17.

As part of the event the contours of the Crimean peninsula, the number 70, the contours of the Crimean Tatar Tamga national symbol and the words ‘No genocide’ were formed from candles.





Information on the history of the deportation

http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/05/18/k...-bans-rallies/

[Natalka]

A patriotic march in a village Vovkovyntsi:




Ukrainians in Zaporizhia march for a united Ukraine.


Zaporizhians celebrated Ukrainian Day on May 14

[Natalka]

[Natalka]

TORONTO - MEGA-MARCH IN EMBROIDERED SHIRTS May 17

[Natalka]

Staunton, May 18 – Despite a ban on any demonstrations by the Russian occupation authorities and a decision by the Milli Mejlis not to hold a mass commemoration lest it become the occasion for a Russian provocation, thousands of Crimean Tatars have assembled in their homeland today to mark the 70th anniversary of their deportation by Stalin.


In Simferopol this morning, several hundred people with Crimean Tatar national s assembled in the Salgirka Park, and several hundred more met in the square in front of that city’s railroad station where the foundation has been laid for a future monument to the deportation which involved 200,000 Crimean Tatars, a large fraction of whom died as a result.

Today, all roads approaching Simferopol were under surveillance by the police and security forces, to make sure that Crimean Tatars weren't able to get to their traditional May 18th rally in an organized manner. Most people decided to get to the rally separately. Russian security forces created artificial traffic jams on the main roads. So, many people ended up walking to the rally point at the Ak-Mosque in pouring rain, leaving their cars behind. Moreover, there entire city was chock full of the 'self-defense' gangs with helicopters flying over. About 40 minutes after the the rally started, helicopters left and it stopped raining.

[Natalka]

Dnipropetrovsk also held a rally commemorating the deportation of Crimean Tatars on May 17. The Crimean national symbol 'tamga' was formed out of lit candles on the bank of the Dnipro river. Representatives of the Crimean Tatar community as well as Ukrainians and people of other nationalities participated in the gathering. The activists plan to ask the city authorities to grant them a flowerbed where volunteers will make a 'tamga' out of planted flowers.

[Natalka]

Putin orders troops back from border

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops near Ukraine's border to withdraw, the Kremlin says.
Units in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions should return to their permanent bases, a statement said.
Russia has made similar statements in the past, only for Nato to report no change.


"In connection with the completion of the planned spring phase of military training... at ranges in Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, Putin ordered the defence minister to withdraw the troops that took part in the exercises," the Kremlin statement said.
It was unclear how many troops would be pulled out or when it would happen.


Heavy mortar fire outside Sloviansk apparently damaged a large gas pipeline and set off a fire on Monday


Meanwhile clashes have continued between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatist militants in eastern Ukraine.
One Ukrainian soldier was killed and one injured on Monday in an attack by separatists on a checkpoint near Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine's Interfax news agency quoted the country's defence ministry as saying.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27467807

[Natalka]

Pro-Russian militants detain three men suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government in Kramatorsk, Pro-Russian militants detain three men suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine on Sunday

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces fought insurgents in the country's east, killing one rebel and losing a police station, as separatists prepared for an election later this year after declaring independence and saying they want to join Russia.

Masked men set fire to a candidate's regional campaign office before a May 25 presidential ballot as government troops and insurgents skirmished in Ukraine's Donbass regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The separatists, who hold buildings and radio and television towers in about 15 cities, said they'd hold a vote, possibly around Sept. 14, to elect new officials for their self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic."

With a week to go before the presidential ballot, masked men torched the office of candidate Sergiy Tigipko's Donetsk campaign manager with Molotov cocktails.


A group of gunmen attacked the Interior Ministry's regional office in Luhansk, the ministry said in a statement. The separatists were "hiding behind women and children," which prompted the central government officials to move their office to another town in the region to avoid casualties, the ministry said.
Insurgents also attacked a National Guard base near Slovyansk, a town of 116,000 about 124 miles from the Russian border, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov posted on Facebook Sunday.
"We didn't lose anyone," Avakov said. "Those who attacked the National Guard camp near Slovyansk had one killed and one wounded. He was provided with medical help and is detained. The investigation team is working with him."
The Defense Ministry said four soldiers were wounded there and in another attack in Izyum, which they also repelled, according to a statement on its website.

In a report last week, United Nations monitors criticized "repeated acts of violence" against protesters, mainly those in favor of Ukraine's unity, as well as "targeted killings, torture and beatings," mostly by "well-armed anti-government groups in the east."

http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/u...ction-1.283764

[Natalka]

Ukrainians in London take part in Vyshyvanka March for Peace



Ukrainians and their supporters marched today in traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts from 10 Downing St to Holland Park during the traditional spring Vyshyvanka Mega March.

[Natalka]

in Cologne (Köln)



in Kirovohrad:



Mykolayiv activists held a patriotic bicycle race

[Natalka]

Remembering the victims of the tragic deportation of Crimean Tatars from Crimea in 1944 (May 18-20), activists in Tbilisi today:



in Kyiv





Warsaw - at Russian Embassy