DONETSK, Ukraine - As soon as the sun goes down, the streets empty out.
Restaurants shut down and families go home, such as 61-year-old Vadim Konstanova with his two grandsons. He waits for the trolleybus that will bring him and the two boys safely back to their home in the western Petrovskiy district. “This land is ruled by guns at night. No one speaks about it, but everyone knows it. Crime has risen since the founding of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Konstanova said.
The trolleybus arrived and his parting advice was: “Be safe and don’t be fooled.”
The Kremlin-backed separatists keep building their own unrecognized government institutions. The newly established police department exists to “protect our residents,” according to 20-year-old policeman Konstantin Nazarchenko, wearing a rifle around his shoulder and handcuffs attached to his belt.
In pairs, Nazarchenko and his 23-year-old colleague Roman – who doesn’t want to answer questions or to give his full name – patrol the streets during the day in the downtown area of Donetsk.
“During the weekend several events are held in Donetsk, so many families and friends gather. As a result they might be a target from pickpocketers or unwanted people who beg for money. We try to prevent that, and if we catch persons like thst we remove them from the area,” Nazarchenko told the Kyiv Post.
Contrary to Konstanova’s claim, Nazarchenko said crime has dropped since separatists seized control of the city.
“I don’t have numbers, but it’s clear the rate of crime has decreased. There are fewer arrests, less convictions, and a large number of people have left Donetsk,” he said.
The continuing humanitarian crisis in Donetsk creates conditions for crime.
At least this is what a 39-year-old homeless man, Artem, told the Kyiv Post. He admits to stealing. Because he fears he might get arrested or worse, he didn’t give his last name.
“I lost everything because of the war and nobody is trying to help me,” he said.
Passersby sometimes give him a few hryvnias. “There are days that I don’t have enough money to eat, and because I’m not registered I cannot apply for food packages that are distributed. So, yes, what else can I do? I steal of course! You’d probably do the same!’
Donetsk is filled with hundreds of other beggers and homeless. According to Vitaliy Strauskov, working as a firefighter for Donetsk’s State Emergency Ministry, it will become a much bigger problem if Ukraine keeps contiuing to cut off the occupied territories.
“In one year time I’ve seen so much tragedy that I can understand that people in desperate times commit petty crimes. It is Ukraine’s government that is ultimately responsible. They cut off our banks, pensions, and it’s now even become difficult and time consuming to even enter Ukraine’s territory. It’s inhumane for those living here with little money,’ Strauskov told the Kyiv Post.
The self-proclaimed authorities in Donetsk haven’t introduced rule of law, but punishment happens.
On April 23 a separatist fighter was accused of stealing from locals in Krasnyi Partizan and he was punished by other separatist fighters who tied him to a pole near a checkpoint.
In November, in the small town of Alchevsk that has been under control by separatists in Luhansk Oblast, a people’s court was introduced where Alchevsk residents sentenced a man to death who was accused of raping a woman.
Larger organized crimes go unpunished because the police force is lacking.
Anastasia, who fears losing her job if she is identified publicly, said: “There are two sorts of street gangs: those that consist of civilians and those of separatist fighters. Civilian gangs have started to rob taxis at night as they’re the ones that usually have lot of cash on them. But, these gangs also do dirty government jobs. Racketeering. They show up at people’s houses or businesses, and collect tax money for the government. Many fear those tough guys and the government makes use of them. As a result of people’s fear, Donetsk residents voluntarily pay taxes and register themselves. What the taxes are used for? I simply can’t answer that, but take a guess. I’m also sure these gangs deal in drugs. The authorities look away from it, and in return, well you know what they’ll get.”
Separatist fighters are also involved in crimes, according to Anastasia. “They have acquired a special status as a fighter here, and that makes some think they stand above the law, even if such exists here. There are numerous cases where mostly young separatist fighters to intimidate locals to steal from them. It’s insane,” Anastasia said.
Dmitriy Kostyaleva, who’s been a taxi driver for more than 10 years, says that street crime has increased.
“I work in both Ukraine, (separatist) DNR and (separatist) LNR, but there’s something different in ‘our’ territory. There’s no law and people get away with things. That’s what’s wrong in Donetsk. People shouldn’t get away with crimes. Speaking for myself, it has happened five times this year already that I have been robbed. What would you do if you look in the barrel of a gun?! You give them your money!”
Kostyaleva drives fast and ignores the speed limit.
“Traffic police are just part of the image to the outside world so they’ll think everything is going right in Donetsk. Well, obviously it’s not. There have been a lot of car accidents involving speed or even alcohol. In Ukraine, it’s a crime, but here the drivers go out free. I don’t fear the authorities as much as others do, but I have to tell you that sometimes I think back of the good old days in Donetsk. Yes, there was crime everywhere. It was known as a bandit city full of mafia. It still is, but they just don’t get punished.”
The Ministry of Justice in Donetsk didn’t want to give any comments. A spokesperson of the ministry told the Kyiv Post that ‘the outside world may believe whatever they want to believe.” Also, the spokesperson refused to give numbers of criminal suspects detained other than prisoners of war.
