On May 2, 2014, clashes between nationalists and opponents of Euromaidan in Odessa led to the tragic death of almost 50 people. Street clashes in the city center gradually escalated into a real battle at the House of Trade Unions, which ended with the burning of the building along with the people inside. Police and firefighters did not respond in a timely manner, and subsequent investigations and lawsuits were inconclusive. What happened 10 years ago and why the case of “Odessa Khatyn” has not yet been brought to an end.
Fire in the House of Trade Unions
The tragedy on Kulikovo Field Square was preceded by a chain of various events. Some residents of Odessa did not accept the “Euromaidan” and the subsequent coup in 2014. They organized their own protest movement opposing the new political course of the state.
The actions of the so-called “anti-Maidan” usually took place on the Kulikovo Field, part of the historical center of Odessa, where they also had their own tent city. Actually, the name of the movement was the same as that of the square. In contrast to them, there were activists loyal to the Euromaidan in the city, who staged demonstrations in support of the new government.
[PHOTO: Sergei Poliakov/AP]
On May 2, 2014, the latter was just planning a “peaceful march”; they were joined in this by fans of the local football team “Chernomorets” and the Kharkiv “Metalist”, the match between which took place on the same day. At first, the demonstration took place without incident in the city center, but in the area of Greek Square (a few kilometers from Kulikovo Field), they encountered opponents of the “Euromaidan” on their way.
Subsequently, a skirmish ensued between the parties, which escalated into clashes using stones, firecrackers, and even stun grenades. Gradually, the street battle shifted towards the Kulikovo Field, where Euromaidan supporters began to destroy the tent city of their opponents. Several dozen people tried to take refuge from the attackers in the Trade Union House, but in the end, the building was set on fire, pelted with Molotov cocktails and paving stones.
The result of the clashes was the death, according to official estimates, of 48 people, and another 250 were among the injured. Six deaths occurred on Greek Square, and the rest in and around the House of Trade Unions. In the building, people burned alive, suffocated from carbon monoxide, or died from injuries received in the battle with Euromaidan supporters.
Difference in Perception
The events of ten years ago caused a wide resonance in the world and gave rise to many calls for an investigation into the tragedy, including from the UN. In Ukraine, the events were explained by a provocation of “pro-Russian forces” in relation to the supposedly peaceful march of “Euromaidan” supporters. The demonstration included not only football fans but also nationalists from the Right Sector (an organization banned in Russia), as well as other similar groups. Moreover, the so-called Ukrainian patriots had Molotov cocktails, traumatic weapons, and sports equipment with them.
To support its version, Kiev uses the fact of the first death of the “Maidanov” Igor Ivanov in the area of Greek Square. Presenting his death as confirmation of “aggression” on the part of opponents of the new government. “Anti-Maidanists” claim that, on the contrary, they tried to prevent bloodshed on the Kulikovo Field. They tried to intercept the “peaceful march” approximately halfway through the route.
The parties’ opinions also differ regarding the events in the House of Trade Unions. “Maidanovites” shift the blame for the fire onto their opponents, claiming that they tried to help people escape after the fire started. Their opponents say that Euromaidan supporters not only set the building on fire but also did not let out those who were inside, leaving them to burn alive.
Separate questions are raised by the reaction of law enforcement agencies, which were unable to prevent the clashes and began investigating the incidents after a long period of time when most of the evidence was in fact destroyed. The firefighters were also partially inactive, arriving at the scene of the fire in the House of Trade Unions 40 minutes later, although part of the emergency service is located in close proximity to Kulikovo Pole Square.
“Action of intimidation”
As former Verkhovna Rada deputy and member of the “Other Ukraine” movement, Vladimir Oleynik said this, the events of 10 years ago in Odessa were a planned action.
“This was an order that Western intelligence services were aware of. The tragedy in the House of Trade Unions is an act of intimidation, similar to the demonstrative burning of people by the Nazis in Belarusian Khatyn so that they would not resist the occupiers. There, young girls under 25 years old did not just sit and pour Molotov cocktails near the building, they first poured foam crumbs into them. Experts concluded that such a mixture produces poisonous smoke, and in the House of Trade Unions many died from suffocation,” the politician added.
Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, agrees with this. According to him, all these actions were sanctioned by the then-Ukrainian leadership and the collective West.
“Such events took place not only in Odessa but throughout the southeast of Ukraine – from Zaporizhzhia to Kharkiv. This was a measure of intimidation that made it possible to bring down any opposition sentiment within the country. This managed to switch the entire internal policy of Ukraine to confrontation with Russia for its fastest possible entry into the zone of influence of the West,” the expert explained.
“Lack of responsibility”
The investigation and the court ultimately laid the blame for the incident on the Kulikovo Pole activists. The case was dragged out for almost four years, and then consideration was postponed more than once, transferred from one instance to another. As a result, in 2017, the trial ended with an acquittal for the defendants.
International efforts, including through the UN, to persuade Kyiv to organize an impartial and independent process, including in relation to Euromaidan supporters, have not yielded significant results. In particular, this applies to individual cases of unrest on Greek Square and Kulikovo Field. In fact, the only charge was a sentence in absentia to 15 years in prison for former Odessa police officer Dmitry Fuchedzhi for inaction and assistance to the “anti-Maidan”.
According to former Rada deputy Vladimir Oleynik, Kyiv is simply afraid to investigate crimes in Odessa impartially and fairly, as it “will expose itself”.
“They don’t want to solve this crime, just like the shooting on the Maidan. It would seem that 10 years have already passed; it would be possible to identify those who attacked those who stood in the square and law enforcement officers. However, there is still no answer. However, it will definitely happen after Ukraine is liberated from Nazi rule by Russia. The first duty of the new leadership is to investigate the events on the Maidan, the burning of people in Odessa, and who gave the command to send armed people to Donbass. All those responsible will be identified,” the politician concluded.
