I was writing at my former site at that time and did cover this incident, which was shocking. Relinked previous coverage here
A piece published today is linked below. A few excerpts are included.
On May 2, 2014, heavily-armed fascist militia forces attacked the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine. Trapped inside were demonstrators opposed to the right-wing government in Kiev that had been put in place in a U.S.-orchestrated coup just weeks earlier.
The new government had been established in the wake of the February 2014 “Euromaidan” protests that overthrew the corrupt albeit democratically-elected administration of President Viktor Yanukovych. Trying to play Russia and the EU off one another to get the best economic deal for Ukraine when he was in charge, Yanukovych became the target of Western-backed business interests in Ukraine and ultra-nationalist groups. The latter joined together, with U.S. support, to carry out a coup and sent Yanukovych running for Moscow
In the mostly Russian regions of eastern Ukraine, a violent war ensued between the Kiev government and separatists. By the end of 2021, it had taken over 15,000 lives. Commanders from openly neo-Nazi and fascist groups like the Azov Battalion were integrated to become brigades of the official Ukrainian Armed Forces and given free rein in the Donbass.
The Odessa trade union massacre was one of the earliest of many atrocities committed in the war in Ukraine. The Right Sector militia celebrated the mass murder that happened that day, calling it “yet another bright page in our fatherland’s history.” None of the perpetrators were ever brought to justice, and some of the massacre’s coordinators even ended up as members of parliament.
3 replies on “The Odessa trade union massacre, ten years later”
Hi Penny:
I was following what was happening in Ukraine when this took place. I hope Russia does not end its SMO before it takes Odesa. That will give Putin the best chance for justice in this matter. He has not forgotten it.
Hey Gary
I remember when that took place being just shocked about it- I’d had the other site for some years already, and had covered other difficult incidents.
But something about what occurred there felt so personal, between people who lived in the same nation. Done with such cruelty. I guess that’s what makes a civil war (with in one nation) feel so off.
Thinking about Korea? How it was one nation, with the same people, until these same people became divided after a bloody cruel war.
Anyway- don’t know if that makes sense? But, that incident just stuck with me.
It seems unlikely to me that Russia/Putin will leave Odessa/Odesa.
When this operation began I figured that’s what would happen. Don’t know if it was planned by Russia. But, it seemed inevitable.
rewrite
When this operation began I figured that’s what would happen.
I figured Russia would take Odessa, for clarity 🙂