UKRAINE-CRISIS/DONETSK-PROTEST Donetsk residents rally to support rebels as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day

Record ID: 142714

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/DONETSK-PROTEST Donetsk residents rally to support rebels as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day
  • Date: 24th August 2015
  • Summary: DONETSK, UKRAINE (AUGUST 24, 2015) (REUTERS) GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH FLAGS MONUMENT TO UKRAINIAN POET TARAS SHEVCHENKO PEOPLE WITH PLACARDS BOY HOLDING PLACARD READING (Russian): 'WE CAN'T BE DEFEATED. DONBASS WILL NOT BREAK' PLACARD READING (Russian): 'CONGRATULATIONS TO POROSHENKO ON UKRAINE'S DEPENDENCE DAY' MAN SPEAKING FROM FORM PLACARD WITH NUMBERS OF PEOPLE KILLED AND INJURED DURING CONFLICT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH FLAGS AND PLACARDS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, NINA, SAYING: "We want them to understand that we, Donbass, are united. We are a united republic already. And we value our people, our children. And they must keep their hands off our republic." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LISTENING PLACARD READING (Russian): 'INDEPENDENCE DAY OF DEPENDENT UKRAINE' (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, OLGA, SAYING: "I feel sorry for the Ukrainians as they do not understand many things. Many things do not get through to them. And their impression of us is distorted. And this is the most terrible thing - the lies. And of course it will all come out one day." PROTESTERS ON SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ONZH36SWGXACOIAOOW23L0CA
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents of the rebel-held stronghold of Donetsk in Ukraine's east held a rally on the city's main square on Monday (August 24) as Ukraine celebrated the Independence Day.
    Dozens of Donetsk residents with flags came to support the rebels, blaming Kiev and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for the region's troubles. Some were holding banners reading "We can't be defeated. Donbass will not break" and "Congratulations to Poroshenko on Ukraine's Dependence Day."
    Some areas near Donetsk have been caught in fighting between the sides of the conflict since last summer. Many residents have fled the city, some districts were partly destroyed by shelling with both sides blaming each other for it.
    "We want them to understand that we, Donbass, are united. We are a united republic already. And we value our people, our children. And they must keep their hands off our republic," local resident Nina said.
    "I feel sorry for the Ukrainians as they do not understand many things. Many things do not get through to them. And their impression of us is distorted. And this is the most terrible thing - the lies. And of course it will all come out one day," another Donetsk resident Olga told Reuters.
    More than 6,500 people, including hundreds of civilians, have been killed in the conflict. Pro-Russian rebels took up arms in the east after Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 in response to the overthrow of a pro-Moscow president in Kiev by street protests a month earlier.
    Both sides have withdrawn large numbers of heavy weapons from the conflict zone in line with the Minsk agreement reached in February but sporadic clashes still take a steady toll of lives daily.
    One Ukrainian soldier was killed and four others were wounded in the past 24 hours in fighting west of Donetsk, a Kiev military spokesman said on Sunday (August 23). Both sides regularly blame each other for the ceasefire violations.
    President Petro Poroshenko speaking at a ceremony in central Kiev to mark 24 years of Ukrainian independence from its former Soviet ruler on Monday said Ukraine was facing a precarious year struggling to fend off what he called Russian strategies to undermine Kiev's attempts to pursue closer relations with Europe.
    He spoke before travelling to Berlin for talks with the leaders of France and Germany on the implementation of a much-violated ceasefire deal.
    Kiev and Western governments, which have imposed sanctions on Russia, say there is irrefutable evidence of Russian involvement in the separatist resistance. Moscow denies it is providing men or arms.
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