May 2 was the most violent and deadly day in Ukraine since the Euromaidan protests began in November 2013. Between 30-40 people were killed in Odessa after pro-Ukrainians and pro-Russians clashed.
As Maxim Eristavi points out, it was “the darkest day since the February massacre in Kyiv.”
Odessa exploded in the late afternoon after the two groups met in the middle of the street. Blogger Nikolai Holmav and reporter Howard Amos are in Odessa and witnessed the entire fight. It is hard to put into words the violence experienced in Odessa; Amos’s pictures speak louder than any words. He documented the violence as it escalated throughout the day.
Amos said there were Molotov cocktails, and pro-Ukranians took a fire engine.
Battle on the streets of Odessa now. Smoke grenades, Molotovs etc pic.twitter.com/x2m9vBXLKS
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Pro-Maidan activists have captured a fire engine in Odessa street battle: pic.twitter.com/MMwe2naifO
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Maybe 400-strong pro-Maidan mob armed with shields, bats and Molotovs on Odessa streets led by seized fire engine: pic.twitter.com/pXgVZyguWc
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
It did not take long for Amos to witness injuries.
Seen at least 3 lying on ground, apparently badly injured, in Odessa: pic.twitter.com/QhmbrVAhqQ
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
People were using makeshift weapons along with the firearms. There were not many police to prevent either side from attacking.
Digging up pavements to make missiles in #Odessa: pic.twitter.com/eYkHi9gDRY
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Molotovs flying smoke grenades and a forceful drive by #Chernomoretz. Air is black with smoke across Gorsad #Odessa
— Nikolai Holmov (@OdessaBlogger) May 2, 2014
Thin line of riot police separating stone-throwing protesters in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/U8CPIbduq0
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
A few Molotovs, but mainly stones being thrown in #Odessa: pic.twitter.com/Ng0SglAscg
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Chaos in #Odessa, thousands now on streets – tho most watching. Molotovs, stones go back and forth: pic.twitter.com/8d1QBRR5CH
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Making Molotovs in central #Odessa: pic.twitter.com/qzUzKR5JAO
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Carrying smashed up cobbles in for missiles in Ukrainian flags: pic.twitter.com/iF7zhz162R
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
These girls breaking up cobblestones for pro-Maidan side in #odessa say they are 14 years old: pic.twitter.com/K4WbCNC6Xq
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Amos reported that riot police showed up but showed no effort to stop the violence.
Riot police make an appearance, immediately surrounded and start to retreat: pic.twitter.com/c8vQym91zp
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
From that police ‘intervention’ it is clear they have no real appetite/power to intervene to stop violence.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
That group of riot police retreated well out of the violence. One says he had ‘no idea’ what they were trying to do: pic.twitter.com/wmWs4d4QhG
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Central Odessa calmed down a few hours later as the pro-Ukraine crowd headed to the pro-Russian camp.
Bloodstained shirt in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/SltdDo9KBv
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
This fire engine is pretty comprehensively smashed up in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/3XLjUciSB0
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Injured police in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/JF3jPjOQbt
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Amos and Holmov reached the pro-Russian camp 20 minutes later and reported seeing fire from their tents.
Smoke rising from pro-Russia camp in #odessa. Looks like it’s been set alight: pic.twitter.com/4IGkmXof0y
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
And pro-Russian camp gone up in flames. Thousands milling around. Explosions, unclear from what pic.twitter.com/HVHSIHvLrR
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Then the pro-Ukraine crowd headed to the trade union building, which has been occupied by pro-Russian forces. The trade union building in Kyiv became a symbol of the Euromaidan protests after it was torched. As the pro-Ukraine crowd moved forward, the pro-Russians attacked them from the rooftop.
Under siege pro-Russian activists are throwing Molotovs from roof of regional administration: pic.twitter.com/qH6LxaguHg
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Improvised Molotov cocktail production outside regional administration building in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/yiuPQVAhF9
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Tempers running high, to say the least: pic.twitter.com/lvAM6AQWM8
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Pro-Ukrainians eventually forced their way inside, and shortly thereafter fires broke out in the building.
The first floor of the regional administration building seems to be ablaze: pic.twitter.com/tE6D5g1EAd
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Hellish scenes. Badly wounded are being carried out on makeshift stretchers: pic.twitter.com/XvwPwH8gBx
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Guys hanging from the window sill on 3rd floor, apparently to escape smoke inside: pic.twitter.com/CXmaKGHMD7
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Then Amos found dead bodies. He also saw one man fall from a window who was trying to reach for a rope to leave the burning building.
Two dead bodies in #odessa: pic.twitter.com/OYp2IWwQZu
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Pro-Ukrainians dragged out the pro-Russians, where they proceeded to beat them. Afterwards, the pro-Russians were loaded into police vans.
Pro-Russian protesters have been brought outside, have hands on head amid mob but are being treated for wounds: pic.twitter.com/9UuiA0CkAt
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
The pro-Russian protesters appear to be being loaded into police vans: pic.twitter.com/dZSxkF9V76
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
The violence finally ended around 9:30 p.m. local time. Amos reported there were men with baseball bats under a bridge who asked people if they were with Odessa or Moscow; the correct answer was “Odessa.”
At the conclusion of the violence, the only people left were the ones who perished and the medical examiners sent to examine the bodies.
Back outside the burnt out trade union building. Ukrainian national anthem playing from car stereos. pic.twitter.com/E7JQP2Bph9
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Police have cordoned off the building. They say fire crews are still working inside.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
A hundred metres from trade union building 8 corpses are being examined by medics and police in headlights of car. Gruesome.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Parents of some of the dead are here to identity them.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Just spoke to a mother and father who came to see what was happening and found the dead body of their 17 year old son lying in the street.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
Mother said that her son, one of the pro-Russian activists, was not a separatist. She said he had fallen from the burning building.
— Howard Amos (@howardamos) May 2, 2014
The next three days are days of mourning in Odessa.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.