Time flies fast : it has almost been two years that the bloody 2014 protests (Russian Spring) took their roots in the peaceful Donbass, Ukraine. In March, 2014, the more foresighted ones predicted terrible consequences to these ongoing events. But few could imagine how much the peaceful and hard-working Donbass would be burnt down by war and how many innocent victims and senseless deaths would bring us the “Russian World”.Today, a lot of inhabitants of the rest of Ukraine conform to blaming the dwellers of the Donbass for triggering their own misfortune and for calling down the Russian invaders on their mother land with supplications such as “Putin, help us!” and “Russia! Referendum!”. This might be partially true : in Donbass, the level of separatist aspiration has always been quite high (it is worth remembering at least the ever-memorable congress of Severodonetsk in 2004, where the supporters of a “federalisation” demanded to exit Ukraine and to create a so-called “South-Eastern Autonomous Republic”, a kind of archetype of the “LNR” and “DNR”.
However, it would be an unforgivable mistake to believe that in Luhansk and Donetsk, a one and only kind of “vatnik” (a radical pro-Russian uneducated aggressive person) and nasty separatists exist, dreaming and seeing themselves in Uncle Putin’s tight embrace.
It is widely agreed that in Donetsk and Luhansk’s region, a big part of the population supports the unity of Ukraine. During the demonstrations of the « Russian Spring », these people openly defended their minds and positions until freedom of speech began to be violently repressed by excursions to the « basement » and systematic beatings by St. George Ribbon carriers on a breast.
In this article, we will recall how the residents of Alchevsk fought for peace, freedom and the right to live in Ukraine.
European Integration : confiscated by the Toilet King and fervent communists
The events on Maidan in Kiev aroused a spontaneous and sincere reaction from the pro-Ukrainian inhabitants of Alchevsk.
On November, 24th of 2013, the inhabitants of Alchevsk in favour of European Integration gathered on Lenin Square to support the fight of Kiev for moving closer to Europe. On that day, about 50 people attended the gathering organized by local activists.
“There, I began wishing to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to exit the situation in which we find ourselves. There is only one exit : it is not about going to Europe – Europe has to be brought here. I am interested in the standards according to which lives the civilized world and I would like them to take root in our country”, says a 53-year-old inhabitant and participant to the gathering.
Despite the small number of participants and the peaceful form of the protest, local communists tried to disrupt it, led by the scandalous “Toilet King”, Alexander Bebeshko.
The local followers of Lenin’s ideas chanted « Russia, Ukraine, Belarus », sang communist songs and tried by all ways to provoke the supporters of the European Integration, wanting to trigger fights. However, despite the tense situation, the event remained pacific. Then, there were the terrible and heroic events of Maidan. Lots of inhabitants of Alchevsk, leaving behind their studies and jobs, went to Kiev to oppose the criminal regime and fight for their right for freedom and self-determination.
Pro-Ukrainian retired people did not fear nor the cold nor the drunk “regionalists”
On January, 23th, 2014, on a sunny freezing day, Alchevsk’s dwellers went out on a picket line at the City Hall, indignant at the anti-people and fanatic actions of the “Berkut” on Maidan and the dictatorial laws adopted on January, 16th. At this time, it was freezing and the picket was settled during working hours, that is why only a few retired-activists showed up to the City Hall. They were holding signs with slogans : “Power, think again ! Some have been killed. You have their blood on your hands”, “Yanukovych, stop and think about what you are doing”. The protesters strongly condemned the crimes of the “Berkuts” and called for the resignation of the Minister of Interior Affairs, Zakharchenko. Vladimir Kasuga, Alchevsk’s Mayor, bothered approaching the protesters to ask them holding the picket in a way that would not disturb the attendants of the City Council.
On the next day, people were still gathering up : more than 20 people came to the picket line. Alchevsk’s people were holding post-signs with the writing “Berkut, stop fooling people and act within the frame of law and regulations!”, “Shame on the authorities that adopted anti-constitutional laws!”. The participants condemned the laws adopted on January, 16th and expressed an active support to the protesters of Maidan.
The picket could not get started : around the City Council more than fifty drunk people appeared with ratty symbols of the Party of Regions. They said that they “randomly came by” and could not clearly explain from where they got the flags of Yanukovych’s party.
Some of them were confused : “I heard that a demonstration was going on here against Maidan and the President. No, wait, my mistake. I came to the gathering against Maidan, to support the President”, said hesitantly a middle-aged man.
There were two local Party of Regions’ deputies of the City Council among these fifty people. One of them threw himself on the pacifist demonstrators and, tearing a sign from an elderly woman, furiously threw it to the muddy snow.
This time however, it ended without blood : an hour later, both sides left the “battle field”.
Who’s who: common sense VS Rostov’s “tourists”
One of the last pro-Ukrainians event in Alchevsk was a meeting hold on March, 5th of 2014, on Soviet Square. Around fifty citizens showed up, seriously concerned by the ongoing events in Crimea.
At the same time, in Alchevsk and in the neighbouring Perevalsk, more than 20 anti-militarist billboards were put in place, with the slogans “No war” and “Putin ! Hands off Ukraine!”, made by one of the entrepreneurs with his own savings. The inhabitants of Alchevsk responded positively to this initiative.
People brought signs to the gathering : “Alchevsk is Ukraine”, “The mothers of Alchevsk against the war”, “When masters fall out, their men get the clout”, “Putin! Hands off Ukraine!” (in Ukrainian) and a lot more. The people also brought a lot of Ukrainian flags. The demonstrators openly condemned Putin and Russia’s role regarding the annexion of Crimea, and actively called the persons attending and supporting the “referendum” to reconsider in order to avoid big troubles.
An hour later, on this same square, the gathering “Russian Spring 2” started (the first one was on March, 1st). People lose their common sense in an ocean of pro-Russian slogans shouted by a crazy crowd (and spoon of common sense will inevitably sink in a vat of pro-Russian cries on the insane crowd), mainly composed by the so-called “tourists”, i.e people brought from Rostov’s region in the Russia Federation and paid to take part to the gatherings and provocations. It is noteworthy that the watches of lots of these “tourists” were still showing the Russian time slot, explicitly betraying their origin.
Four days later, on March, 9th of 2014 in Luhansk, supporters of Putin beat people paying tribute to Kobzars, seized the regional civil administration and raised on its front the tricolor flag.
From this day on, showing open support to Ukraine in Luhansk became dangerous for one’s life.
The fight still goes on
Alchevsk fought for the right to be together with Ukraine. And, however bold, this struggle continues and today remains often unseen, and sometimes costs life.
If fate drives you towards people who were forced to leave the Donbass, please think twice before blindly labelling them as “separatists” or “vatnik”. Think twice before denying them a housing or a job. In the hearts of some of these people, the flame of love for Ukraine burns much strongly than in the heart of some of the “ordinary” inhabitants of our long-suffering nation.
P.S : On the Spring of 2014 on Maidan, on the colonnade of Kiev’s Main Post Office, someone from Alchevsk wrote this sincere inscription :
“Alchevsk is on Maidan day and night,
against tyrants defending right.
Together we cry all the time:
Glory To Ukraine, Glory to Heroes!”.
