DONETSK, Ukraine - As separatists seize more buildings in Donetsk, the streets of the eastern Ukrainian city of more than 1 million people remain largely deserted as support for Kremlin-backed separatists appears to be ebbing.
As of June
19, groups of unknown armed men who identify themselves as activists of the so-called
Donetsk People’s Republic are present in several administrative buildings in
the city, according to the press service of Donetsk Oblast administration. These
involve some of the city’s police stations, the Donetsk city treasury and city
prosecutor’s office. Armed men are also still control the Donetsk Oblast
administration building.
Previously,
on June 16, separatists have also seized buildings of National Bank of Ukraine and
a local tax office. Eyewitnesses have said that during the operation, when
approximately 40 armed men entered the national bank, several streets around
the building were shut down by police officers who appeared to be cooperating
with separatists.
However, the
next day all seized bodies were operating again normally as Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko
boasted about successful negotiations. Then head of the National Bank, Stepan
Kubiv, has confirmed that the bank restored its operations and moved many of
its activities to Kyiv.
The only
building in Donetsk which separatists clearly seem in control of is the
building of the Donetsk Oblast administration. Considered their headquarters in
the city, it hosts separatists’ so-called cabinet of ministers. But even this building
does not seem under the separatists’ control. Barricades around it are gone.
From the outside, the building looks largely abandoned with no people going in
or out.
Most of the
barricades erected in the city in spring are also either abandoned or are laxly
guarded by one or two volunteers in poor ammunition.
The flag of
the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic is flying over very few administrative
buildings, while all of them still have Ukrainian national symbols on facades.
While the
city has remained largely quiet, few people dare to go to the city center even
in daylight. Many of the local businesses, including shops, cafes and some
banks have temporarily suspended operation.
Many have
left the city. According to United Nations data, 34,000 Ukrainians have moved
out of Donetsk Oblast because of the unrest in eastern Ukraine. Many of those
who remain are afraid to discuss politics.
Many of
those who stayed have lost their incomes, locals complain.
“There are no
projects now, so we earn nothing. Many companies have suspended their activity
temporarily, those who are still operating do not even make ends meet,” says
local businessman Yan, who refused to give his last name out of fear of revenge.
Locals say
that many of those who supported the separatists at first have become
disappointed and just want the region to go back to its previous life.
“There was
euphoria among pro-Russian people and those nostalgic for the USSR. They
thought they would be overtaken by Russia and have higher salaries at their
factories and higher pensions. But the Crimean scenario did not take place
here. When all looting and anti-terrorist operation started, many DNR
supporters got disappointed. Very few people support DNR now,” says local NGO
activist Serhiy, who declined to give his last name out of fear of revenge.
The last
sociological survey which was conducted by activists of Democratic alliance
political party on May 4, showed 72,8 per cent support for united Ukraine in Donetsk
Oblast.
Nothing
illustrates this better than the June 18 demonstration of Donetsk miners who marched
the city, demanding to stop the anti terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. Only
few hundred people participated – a sharp contrast to large pro-Russian
demonstrations attended by thousands in central Donetsk in spring.
Svitlana Tuchynska is a former Kyiv Post staff
writer and can be reached at [email protected]
