Eastern Ukraine Building Seizures Are Following a Pattern

Eastern Ukraine was rocked by further violence today as a rally in the region’s administrative center of Donetsk descended into violence and further seizures of state buildings by pro-Russia rebels.

Celebrations preceded the chaos as thousands of people took to the streets in Donetsk to celebrate the Soviet-era Worker’s Day, which is still a public holiday in Ukraine. Waving Russia and Donetsk Republic flags, the crowd of around 2,000 chanted “Russia” and “Donbas” as they marched through the city center. But as the rally reached the police station the atmosphere changed dramatically, when between 100 and 150 thugs — many wearing balaclavas and carrying baseball bats — joined the crowd.

The city police succumbed with virtually no resistance and allowed the separatists to enter the building though the front door. Shortly after a man in military fatigues emerged and announced that the police were “with the people.” The so-called “seizure” followed the pattern of occupations across the region, which appear to have been prearranged with local security force leaders.

Events turned ugly when the militia then turned its attention to the prosecutor’s office, which was under the protection of lines of riot police. Faced with an angry mob, the police fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades before retreating inside. Protesters retaliated by hurling rocks and dug up paving stones.

The angry mob slowly advanced on the building, eventually cornering the besieged officers in the backyard where they were disarmed them of their riot shields and batons before evacuating to safety via a cordon formed by the rebels’ leaders. The baying protesters jeered and howled as the police retreated, before looting the building. The Ukrainian flag was burnt, and the Donetsk People's Republic's motif was raised above the building.

“These fucking bastards support the fascist junta in Kiev,” one skinhead protester, who gave his name only as Igor, told VICE News. “They should be held accountable to the people. This is the will of the people.”

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Clashes took place at the prosector’s office in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on May 1.

The rebels have controlled the city administration building in Donetsk since April 6, when they declared an independent “People’s Republic of Donetsk.” Since then, the militias have fanned out their efforts across the region, establishing a stronghold in neighboring Slovyansk — which, ringed by pro-Russia roadblocks, is fully under the clutches of the armed separatist movement. Luhansk, Kramatorsk, Konstantinovka and Mariupol are also largely rebel held.

Peaceful Rally in Kharkiv Considered a Success
In stark contrast to Donetsk, the May Day rally held in swing state Kharkiv — jointly organized by the Communist Party and so-called local “anti-Maidan” forces — was peaceful. Outside the city’s administration building, riot police flying the Ukrainian flag formed a defensive line to protect against a storm. The smashed windows remain unrepaired from previous attempts by rebels to take the building in April.

At noon up to 1,000 people massed on Kharkiv’s central Freedom Square. Beneath the statue of Lenin, speeches were delivered to crowd. "Kharkiv says no to the fascist junta, Kharkiv says no to capitalism, Kharkiv says no to the Nazi west," bellowed one speaker to a chorus of cheers.

Kharkiv, a city on the cusp of the rebel held east, is deeply politically divided. Around 16 percent of the population support the idea of the region seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia, a figure nearly half that of the neighboring rebel-controlled Donetsk oblast.

Many of those gathered for the May Day celebrations were Soviet nostalgic pensioners who blame the social unrest in the region on the new government in Kiev. “Two months ago we couldn’t have thought about living separately from the west of Ukraine, now we can’t live with them,” said 60-year-old Nikolay Koskov. “They are trying to kill Russian culture, to stop us speaking our language.”

Russian media reporting has fuelled fears of a Ukrainian nationalist and fascist threat in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east.

Speaking to VICE News, Igor Baluta, a Kiev-loyalist and newly appointed head of the Kharkiv regional administration said that the absence of violence in the city on a day that was a potential flashpoint day should be considered a “success.” Every effort is being made to ensure that security forces in the oblast remain loyal to Kiev, he added.

Around 30 percent of the police considered to have wavering loyalty have been purged, and 135 arrests have been made in connection with organizing separatist movements, he said.

However, despite the tepid demonstration, many fear this may just be the calm before the storm. Kharkiv is a key strategic point for pro-Russia forces, who are likely seeking to secure a land passage from Russia to Crimea, which was annexed following a Putin-backed putsch in March.

"We are waiting from reinforcements, our men are busy in Donetsk at the moment, but they will be coming here to help soon," one separatist at the Kharkiv rally told VICE News. He was specifically referencing Oplot, a Russian nationalist movement based in Kharkiv, which has openly helped organize building seizures across the region.

Baluta said that he expected “reprisal attacks” and that “angry separatists” would look for “revenge” against the authorities on Victory Day, a public holiday held in celebration of the Soviet Union’s triumph in World War II.

Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukraine’s beleaguered interim President Olexander Turchynov announced that military conscription will be reinstated across the country. The decision follows his announcement yesterday that the country’s security forces are “helpless” in defending against rebel incursions in eastern Ukraine. Many police officers and soldiers in the region are defecting, admitted the president.

Two “counter-terrorism” operations have failed resolutely at ousting the rebels, who now control more of the region than they did before the stings were launched in April.

Follow Harriet Salem on Twitter: @HarrietSalem

Photos by Henry Langston. Follow Henry on Twitter: @Henry_Langston