A clash was narrowly avoided on June 22 when a group of around thirty masked protesters gathered outside the Russian consulate in Kyiv, chanting anti-Russian slogans and throwing conkers from nearby trees at police. Some of those involved had been present during clashes outside the Russian embassy the previous weekend.
“These
are people who have occupied our land and killed our people. And you’re
protecting them,” the balaclava-clad protestors shouted at a police cordon that
was set up to defend the building.
In
a comical scene, the protesters piled bricks and tyres outside the consulate before unfolding a large Ukrainian flag and posing for photos in front of the police
line. Some of those present claimed to be waiting for more of their group to
arrive before attempting to break through the cordon.
“Call
around to all your friends, say the pigs are protecting the Russians,” one of
them shouted. At one point four cars waving Ukrainian flags from their windows
pulled up, eliciting cheers from the small crowd.
The
clash was eventually averted thanks to the arrival of Yuriy Artyukhov, head of
the Kyiv branch of the SBU, Ukraine’s
security service, who reasoned with the group and apparently persuaded
them to leave.
“I told them that the EuroMaidan
movement succeeded by upholding European values. I explained about the Geneva
convention and how we can’t do such things if we want to be a part of Europe.
It seemed to work,” he said.
The
protesters had assembled earlier in the day outside the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a
historic centre of Orthodox Christianity under the jurisdiction of the Moscow
Patriarchate, where a confrontation took place between groups from rival
branches of the Church.
Police
were preventing access to the monastery to worshippers of the Kyiv Patriarchate,
who had gathered to commemorate the 73rd
anniversary of Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. A group from the Russia-affiliated
Moscow Patriarchate had entered the grounds prior to their arrival to hold
their own ceremony, according to some of those present.
Many
of the balaclava-clad members of the crowd were initiating anti-Russian chants
and football songs, although most claimed to be there to prevent unrest. When
the worshippers left to try and gain access through another entrance to the
monastery, the protestors decided to march on the Russian consulate.
