UPDATE. Also here You can find a photo story with commentaries about what has really happened in Odessa: http://inforesist.org/photo-fact-what-has-really-happened-in-odessa/?lang=en.
You were warned
Arkadij Babchenko – Russian publicist, war reporter, writer and veteran of Chechnya war.
I can tell only this on Odessa events.
Armed people wishing massacre and dead bodies came covering themselves by the cops?
Armed people got massacre and dead bodies.
They thought this would be not their own dead bodies?
No. It would be their dead bodies as well.
For all Russian “patriots” now shouting about fascist and how “to level chochly under asphalt” – do you think that there would not be dead bodies of yours?
No. There would be dead bodies of yours. If it would start serious – it could not go without dead bodies of yours. Never ever. Believe me.
You thought it would be otherwise?
You thought that it is enough to spit hysterically on monitor and zhydobanderovcy will level themselves and annihilate? You thought that it is possible to kidnap, kill, beat, throw grenade on blocking post, and they just will turn another cheek?
No. They will fight.
If you will start killing people – they will kill in response.
Who may ever consider that, right?
“No one will throw flowers under the tracks. There will be total partisan war” – you were warned?
You were warned, right?
You are going to reap just what you sow.
It can’t be the other way.
It will be that way.
Regarding the progress of the anti-terrorist operation, May 4, 2014
By Dmitry Tymchuk, translated by Voices of Ukraine
According to Information Resistance data, after a short period of activation of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO), from May 4 onward an unacceptable downturn in security forces activity begins to take place.
According to our information, the absence of operational command in the area of the ATO, the lack of cooperation between the participating units of law enforcement agencies, and the absence of military orders and goal setting for the use of energy and resources–once again becomes a huge problem.
For example, during the battle near Kostyantynivka on the night of May 3–4, a unit of Ukrainian security forces, which was assaulted by terrorists armed with machine guns and rocket launchers, couldn’t get reinforcements in armored vehicles for over 3 hours. As a result, seven special ops team members of the SBU were wounded.
On the evening of May 4, special forces left Kramatorsk instead of completing their operation for its release from terrorists, or at least blocking terrorist locations.
In such circumstances, the ATO is once again turning into a farce. Which is particularly unacceptable in view of the predicted activation of pro-Russian terrorists on the eve of May 9, 2014.
Activation of the ATO on May 1 miraculously coincided with the arrival of the leaders of the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Defence, and the Presidential Administration into the zone of operations. Soon after, however, the operation began to slip again. Taking into account these “coincidences,” there are more questions for the leadership of the ATO, which for some reason is once again absent beyond the zone of operations.
P.S. On May 16, the ATO commander (a.k.a., the Head of the ATO) will turn 65, after which, according to Ukrainian legislation he can no longer be a public official. Maybe Ukrainian leadership should not wait for this happy moment and instead appoint a man who is able to spare more attention towards the management of operations as Head of the ATO? The clock is ticking.
They ask for Russian troops…
There are lots of pranks about accusations that there is discrimination of Russians in Ukraine.
Message in Russian: Putin, help! Save us! I am Russian-Ukrainian, now living in Italy for 13 years. All this time local benderovtcy are forcing us (to write, read and, of course, to speak) on Italian language. There are lots of russians, please send your troops, help Russian-speaking people!
Dmitry Tymchuk: About the events in southern Ukraine of 2nd-4th of May
About the events in southern Ukraine of 2nd-4th of May
Scenario for the”South” – Russian terrorist’s actions go according to plan of Moscow. As foreseen, the situation in Odessa completely destabilized .
The tragic events in Odessa, provoked by pro-Russian extremists were also made possible because of the position and actions of the Odessa Police .
The fact is that for many weeks, local pro-Russian forces regularly performed provocations against patriotic part of the population. Local law enforcement officers in the best cases showed a complete disability to act, in the worst – actively supported the pro-Russian extremists.
Events of May the 2nd began with the provocations of pro-Russian separatists with attacks against unarmed Ukrainian activists killing civilians and all subsequent events were caused by these murders.
Odessa police in these conditions behaved outrageously and unacceptably. We have evidence that in the period of preparations for pro-Russian provocations on May the 2nd, local law enforcement agencies had arrested a group of pro-Russian extremists. By order of the police chief of the city, they were immediately released.
During the clashes Odessa police provided security for pro-Russian terrorists who were able to freely shoot Ukrainian patriots from behind the policemen.
Only after this bloodshed hosted by separatists with the support of the police began, patriotic citizens moved into action, driving pro-Russian separatists into the House of Trade Unions where they barricaded themselves and continued shooting at unarmed citizens.
We hope that the investigation will establish exactly what happened in the House of Trade Unions and what was the cause of the fire which killed many people. But we have every reason to believe that responsibility for this tragedy lies entirely on those who originally initiated the event on May the 2nd and those who instead of performing their duties as law enforcement officers directly supported and assisted criminals.
At the same time the events of May the 4 when the prosecutor’s office of Odessa region ordered to release the detained initiators of the bloody events saying that it was done “at the request of the protesters”. This clearly indicates that the law enforcement officers of Odessa are not going to stop their criminal activities of supporting and aiding terrorists.
We have to emphasize the damaging role of general prosecutor of Ukraine, who has personally ordered the detained criminals to be left in Odessa instead of being urgently escorted to Kiev.
We want to remind the Ukrainian authorities that these events are only a “warm-up” for pro-Russian terrorists before the 9th of May. If you do not take immediate action today (including personal responsibility and leadership of law enforcement and prosecutors of Odessa region) – the tragic events of the last few days will repeat on a larger scale and not only in Odessa.
Group “Information Resistance “
Odessa: Anti-Maidan activists are in preparations to revenge pro-Ukrainian activists for the death of their people.
In Odessa Anti-Maidan activists are uploading photos and address details of pro-Ukrainian activists to the internet and threaten to revenge for the death of their people during the fire in the Palace of Trade Unions on the 2nd of May. According to UNIAN (УНИАН), Anti-Maidan activists announced the hunt of Odessans, that participated in pro-Ukrainian gatherings. Full details, such as home addresses, phone numbers, information on relatives, friends, working (studying) places, etc. are being shared via ‘VKontakte’ (*Russian Facebook) social network.
The initiators of this revenge call these people gunmen from ‘Right-wing’, ‘fascists’, ‘sheet’, etc, accuse them of murders and urges to revenge. Next to the faces of potential victims they add pictures of burned bodies, found after the fire in Palace of Trade Unions and field of Kulikov.
In the meantime, via social networks activists of Euromaidan warn their people – supporters of the united Ukraine, to not participate in any rallies or gatherings.
Dmitry Tymchuk: Events in Odessa, May 2, 2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
According to Information Resistance, yesterday’s provocations in Odessa, which caused numerous casualties, were the result of an operation conducted and coordinated by Russia.
From the beginning of March until the end of April 2014, we noted the arrival of Russian Armed Forces units and those of the Main Intelligence Directorate [GRU of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces], as well as representatives of Russian Cossacks and ultra-nationalist organizations on the territory of Transnistria.
Since mid-April, our sources in the Republic of Moldova recorded the arrival of Russian groups with young athletic men in Chisinau, departing further into the territory of Transnistria. They were accompanied by Russian FSB operatives.
As a result, by the beginning of May, about 1,700 Russian servicemen and about 2,200 representatives of various Russian organizations (mostly, the Cossacks) coordinated by the FSB were located in Transnistria. Of the total number of Russian troops, about 800 people are represented by GRU units of the General Staff.
We relayed this information during the months of March and April in the Information Resistance reports.
According to our data, starting from the end of April, subversive and reconnaissance groups of Russian Spetsnaz and groups of instigators deployed to the territory of Ukraine, were tasked to destabilize the situation in southern Ukraine in conjunction with local pro-Russian separatists. And first of all–in Odessa.
The active phase of the operation aimed to capture the local [participating] public authorities , and was scheduled for May 9–when under the ideological slogans of Victory Day, an opportunity to initiate the activity of pro-Russian sympathizers among the local population was present. After achieving tactical successes in Odessa, similar actions by incoming ‘Putin’s tourists’ were to be initiated in Mykolayiv and Kherson.
However, the beginning of the active phase of the ATO in Slavyansk made Russian leadership force events in southern Ukraine, in order to compel Ukrainian security forces to urgently deploy resources and means from Donbass. We observed the tragic result of this monstrous provocation yesterday in Odessa.
May 3, 2014 Lithuanian media round-up
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė expressed her condolences to Ukrainian people over the tragic events in Odessa. She said that ‘all sides must join efforts to stabilise the situation.’ (Press Service of the President, BNS)
Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his personal condolences over the tragic situation in Odessa. He hopes that it will spread unity rather than anger in the strong community of Odessa. (Twitter)
Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski thinks that destabilization of situation in Ukraine leads to a new cold war between West and Russia. He also does not reject the probability that Russia wants to occupy Eastern Ukraine in exactly the same way as a Crimea. (15min.lt)
Bloody Friday in Odessa. Poll Lenec story.
At 15.00, we (Euromaidan) gathered in Sobor square and prepared to march through Odessa in order to show that Odessa is Ukrainian.
At around 15.30, in the Greek street, a formation of fully equipped pro-Russian activists began approaching us from the direction the ‘Athena’. Police lined two cordons, one blocking us, the other blocking them. Soon people from both sides began breaking street paving and threw stones at each other over the militia cordon. Both fireworks and sonic firecrackers were used. Stone throwing continued for half an hour. Injured persons were moved away. Nobody really understood what was the power ratio.
Half an hour later a small group from Euromaidan decided to outflank the pro-Russians through a small street of Zhukovsky. I was there as well. When our people with stones outflanked them, and there was no police between the groups, pro-Russians opened a combat weapon fire. The last of our group started running, while I and a few other people fell to the ground and hid behind vehicles. Then pro-Russians launched a counterattack, threw stones and fireworks. A huge stone fell just a couple of inches away from my head, its splinter hitting my eyebrow. There was a lot of blood and it was really frightening. After that, I understood that I won’t escape by lying on the ground, and when our people began throwing stones in response, I managed to get to the crowd behind the corner. There, I’ve met the first one hurt in the gunfire. An artery in his leg was shot and pink blood sprayed in fountains. He was in shock and assured me that he was fine. I and some other guys carried him to some quickly erected medical point.
When I came back to Zhukovsky street, I saw the most horrifying sight in my life. A young man was lying dead, covered with a Ukrainian flag. Somebody took his phone, called his parents and said: ‘Your son was killed. Come to Deribasivska to pick him up.’ The first thing I saw when I came back to Zhukovsky street was an AK-47(!) in the shielded pro-Russian crowd and this gun was firing in series of shots in our direction. Also, there were a lot of injured victims. Some friends and I grabbed one of them and carried to safety. His flak jacket was pierced. We brought him to the volunteer medical point. Ambulances were overfilled and leaving.
At that moment, looking at the power ratio, I understood that there were a lot more of our Patriots than pro-Russians. Yet, they were well armed and organized. I thought that if they had enough guns, they will either murder us all or drive us away. Yet, this is where the strength of the Ukrainian nation lies.
Despite the pro-Russian shooting, more and more of our activists approached them. People with stones ran against assault rifles, while covering behind trash bins and cafe tables. In the following hours, we have blocked the whole perimeter and pressed them up in the Greek street, in an unfinished parking lot of ‘Athena’. We mostly used barricades, constructed from everything that was at hand. At that time, police was either doing nothing or did something incomprehensible. Yet, they surely did nothing to end the conflict.
A few hours later, our side started throwing Molotov cocktails. The only firetruck came closer and began extinguishing the fire on the burning facades of buildings. I don’t know why, but at some point the firefighters abandoned their truck with a broken windshield. Euromaidanians got into the vehicle and simply drove through the barricades towards the pro-Russian crowd. However, at some point the truck stopped and the maneuver wasn’t successful.
During that time I carried away yet another unconscious victim with injured head. Euromaidanians were entirely unprepared for a fight. Except for some twenty members of self-defense unit, we didn’t even have helmets, not to mention the flak jackets. As time passed, shots became rarer and finally stopped. It was clear the the pro-Russian gang is running out of ammo. Then the Ukrainian patriots stood up for attack – beginning from the Greek square, they pushed away pro-russian activists from the Greek street towards the Sobor square. At that time, militia gathered a cordon around us, which gave a chance for some pro-russian activists to break through. However, the crowd quickly defeated that cordon and started to chase the pro-russian crowd through the whole square.
Then, I started running towards the pro-russian activists and literally covered them with my own body because the people were beating them up with clubs and it was impossible to stop them. It was the only choice. That way I saved 3 people. More or less alive, they were dragged to the medical points and almost not beaten up anymore. One pro-russian, who managed to recover after beating, pulled out a huge knife and almost stabbed me. I managed to avoid him, and then he got stunned with a club. From that moment on, I stopped protecting him.
After the pro-russian gang got dispersed, I saw that the streets and the square were full of blood. Patriots regrouped and started moving towards the Kulikovo field in columns, where the tents of separatists were located. When we arrived there, the tents were already on fire and the activists had already locked themselves in the Trade Union House. From there, they started firing through the windows at the area we occupied outside. However, in the Kulikovo field, I saw pistols in our crowd as well. The Trade Union House was quickly set on fire with Molotov cocktails. The house started burning and the pro-russian activists moved to the 4th floor. It quickly became apparent that if we did nothing, the activists would simply die there. There was absolutely no police. Before that they just stood and did nothing and then they didn’t even bother going to Kulikovo.
Everyone quickly realised that the people inside the Trade Union House had to be saved. And after an hour since the fire started, not a single fire truck had arrived to the scene. The patriots broke down the scene and two wooden columns near the windows, so that the pro-russians could get out. A lot of people started climbing up in order to save them. Some of the people, who couldn’t suffer anymore, simply jumped out to the ground from the 4th floor. It was horrible – after reaching the ground, none of them could stand up. These pro-russians, who we saved, acted aggressively (!). Some of them, right after going down the columns, began fighting with the crowd. For that they got beaten up until they lost consciousness.
My sister Danochka and my mother were giving first aid to the wounded throughout the events. One man was thought to be dead, covered with the Ukrainian flag and was left lying alone. Danochka ran to him, checked his pulse and it turned out that he was still alive. Thanks to her, the man was taken to medics and received help.
Finally, the firetrucks and police started to gather. The firemen acted disgustingly. They weren’t rushing at all, dragged everything and simply took the safest positions. People simply took away rescue ladders from them and went rescuing the separatists themselves.The rescuing of the pro-russians became quicker and, actually, the people that the separatists were firing at an hour ago, turned out to be their rescuers. Basically, that was the end of the confrontation.
According to the police summary, more than 50 people died, but I think that the real situation will appear after a couple of days. Right now it seems that there are more than a thousand injured.
Despite this nightmare Odessa showed that it has ten times as many patriots as pro-russians. Just like in Maidan, the number of people and their unbelievable courage simply overwhelmed the enemy. I really hope that we have solved the question of pro-russian separatism for a foreseeable future.
Chronicles of Slavyansk: May 2nd, 2014
By Dmitry Tymchuk, translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
9:30 PM EEST
A group of armed extremists has attacked, using small arms, the servicemen of the 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the vicinity of the village of Andriyivka near Slavyansk, the Defense Ministry announced tonight.
“A violent combat confrontation is underway. At the present moment, two Ukrainian servicemen are confirmed dead,’ the Ministry noted.
Earlier, extremists attempted to prevent the execution of paratroopers’ assigned tasks by blocking the bridge.
At the same time, armed extremists used their usual tactics of terrorist formations–using local local residents, including women, to block [the pathway].
However, according to data reported to Ukrainian Pravda by an informed source, the Ukrainian military were surrounded by armed separatists; they have taken a defensive perimeter and are ‘ready to stand until the very end.’
Source: Pravda.com.ua
8:23 PM EEST
According to ‘InfoResist’ data from the field, in areas of Slavyansk controlled by mutineers, personal transport of locals is being hastily expropriated to stage a suspected break through out of besieged city.
Subversives received special instructions to avoid armed clashes while crossing the state border.
Pro-Russian terrorists in Donbass have been given a full opportunity to confront Ukrainian special forces themselves, without the active support of subversive and reconnaissance groups of the Russian Specnaz.
7:50 PM EEST
Temporary halt in activities by Ukrainian security forces was caused by negotiations with extremists regarding the release of OSCE representatives captured [in Slavyansk last Friday].
Special ops divisions engaged in the operation are fully prepared to continue operations.
5:15 PM EEST
The SBU has established the identity of ‘Abwehr’, whom I had mentioned this morning (he was supposed to take over command from ‘Strelok’).
According to information from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the subversive who went under the call-sign of Abwehr is a citizen of Russia (he also has a Ukrainian passport), Sergey Anatoliyevych Zdryliuk.
Born June 23, 1972 in Vinnytsia Region. Resided in Crimea for a long time. There he went through a special training course in a Russian camp, and on April 12, 2014, he came with Strelok to Donetsk Region to take part in subversive operations.
As a member of a group in charge of intelligence and subversion, he attacked SBU agents on April 13. During this attack, one SBU agent was killed and three were wounded.
5:05 PM EEST
On the possibility of Aksyonov‘s gangs arrival to Donbass from Crimea.
According to the ‘InfoResist’, both of the roads connecting Crimea with mainland Ukraine are currently under full control by the units of State Border Service of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the administrative border of the ARC [Autonomous Republic of Crimea].
Units of [Ukrainian] security forces in the area are in full combat readiness.
Ukrainian border control servicemen have taken measures to prevent the entry of armed individuals from Crimea to the mainland. According to our sources at the State Border Service, the infiltration of militant units from Crimea is out of the question.
Earlier, Putin’s puppet in Crimea by the name of [Sergey] Aksyonov declared about the possible arrival of militants from Crimea to provide ‘assistance’ to pro-Russian separatists in Slavyansk. Also, a video message by the so-called ‘Crimean militia’ was distributed, in which certain individuals in camouflage announced that ‘today, two battalions of Crimea militia were advancing to the southeastern Ukraine.’
1:33 PM EEST
Shortly after our explanation of reasons behind the Russian delegation’s ‘disappearance’ in Donetsk region, Mr. Lukin ‘resurfaced.’
Earlier, after our report about a human shield being organized for terrorists by self-proclaimed mayor Vyacheslav Ponomarev of Slavyansk , ‘mayor’ urgently delivered a video message, in which he called upon the Slavyansk residents to stay home.
We cannot help but to express our satisfaction with such prompt reaction by Russia. We recommend that they keep up the good work.
12:30 PM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, a charter flight with a Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Lukin, which left for Ukraine without issuing a notice to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, landed around 10:00 AM EEST in Donetsk airport.
Currently, as stated by Russian President’s Press secretary Dmitry Peskov, ‘the Russian side can’t yet establish communication with Lukin.’
According to our data, the ‘disappearance’ of Mr. Lukin Russian delegation is talking about is actually a provocation Kremlin planned in advance.
11:30 AM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist”, terrorists attempted to capture/seize the ‘Moscow-Mariupol’ passenger train.
In particular, an attempt was made to seize a train during its stop in Slavyansk (with train arrival in Slavyansk at 8:06 AM EEST).
Anti-terrorist units have thwarted the scenario of terrorists.
There are no casualties or wounded people.
According to operational data of the ‘InfoResist’, the self-proclaimed mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, personally organizes the use of civilians in the streets of Slavyansk to ‘protect’ the town from Ukrainian security forces.
The goal is to provide terrorists with a human shield that primarily consists of women and children.
Interestingly enough, our data shows that a few days ago Ponomarev himself arranged for his family to leave the Donbass area. Ukrainian law enforcement have information about their whereabouts.
11:00 AM EEST
According to operational data of the ‘InfoResist’, during the transfer of authority from the Russian subversive group commander ‘Arrow’ in Slavyansk to the Russian subversive ‘Abwehr’ located in Horlivka [Donetsk region], problems arose.
‘Abwehr’ refused to accept the command. This subversive is currently trying to leave the city of Horlivka.
Ukrainian troops are taking appropriate measures to arrest him.
10:50 AM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, currently 2 Mi-24 helicopters of Ukrainian special forces were shot down from MANPADS.
One Mi-8 helicopter was shot at from small arms, but managed to land.
Also, terrorists are actively using civilian population as a shield in Slavyansk.
10:45 AM EEST
According to field data from ‘InfoResist’, as we reported yesterday, a senior representative of Putin arrives in Ukraine–Vladimir Lukin, the former Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation until March 2014.
A number of Moscow representatives arrive to Donetsk on a charter flight with him.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry hasn’t been notified about the arrival of the delegation.
According to our data, the task of the delegation is to make loud accusatory statements over ‘gross violations of human rights’” by the Ukrainian authorities and security forces in eastern Ukraine.
Vladimir Lukin was the representative of Putin who arrived in Kiev on February 20, 2014 to participate in talks between Yanukovych and Maidan as a mediator from the Russian Federation. He became the sole representative of the parties who refused to sign an agreement between Yanukovych and opposition (in ‘non-compliance’ of which Moscow is presently blames the current Ukrainian authorities).
10:30 AM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, terrorists in Slavyansk are still prepared to implement a provocation with possible loss of life, the planning of which we reported yesterday.
Its purpose is to simulate ‘atrocities’ by Ukrainian security forces. (We do not yet have any information regarding the ‘association’ of the alleged provocation representatives acting on behalf of the ‘Right Sector’ as planned yesterday).
Russian journalists are urgently gathered by terrorist leaders in an area, while they are still controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Ukrainian troops still can not guarantee that they will thwart the provocation.
10:10 AM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, the commander of Russian diversives ‘Shooter’ with a group of subordinates intends to breakthrough from the Slavyansk.
Local separatists were notified that they should not particularly count on the Russian intervention.
Terrorist headquarters in Slavyansk is currently being disbanded – similar structure is organized in Horlivka. The command was transferred to a subversive with a callsign ‘Abwehr.’
10:00 AM EEST
According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, special forces in Slavyansk closed the ‘ring’ around the main forces of terrorists.
There are reports that Russian subversives operating in the city and being the ‘core’ of the terrorist forces, intend to the fight off the encirclement on the border with Russia. Local separatists in this case will solve their own problems.
Ukrainian troops are taking measures to prevent the breakout.
8:00 AM EEST
According to ‘InfoResist’ data from the field, in areas of Slavyansk controlled by mutineers, personal transport of locals is being hastily expropriated to stage a suspected break through out of besieged city.
Also we have noticed signs of panic between petty criminals participating in terrorist activity in Slavyansk. These paid criminals it seems are not prepared to fight against Ukrainian military force for the ‘big ideas from Moscow’.
7:00 AM EEST
According to ‘InfoResist’ data, Ukrainian forces are controlling the majority of Slavyansk while continuing the active phase of anti-terrorist operation. At this moment, checkpoints of terrorists are pulled apart and the television center of the city is under control.
Terrorists are trying to escape. The main sources of resistance are located in the southeastern part of the city.
During the operation, a Mi-24 helicopter used by Ukrainian special forces, has been shot down by terrorists with two shots from MANPADS (the second helicopter that worked in pairs managed to safely retrieve).
