- Title: UKRAINE: Odessa residents pay tribute to WWII heroes
- Date: 9th May 2014
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS MONUMENT WITH FLOWERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS AT MONUMENT STALIN'S PICTURE ON FLAG WOMAN LAYING FLOWERS MORE FLOWERS BEING LAID AT MONUMENT VETERAN OLEG NAYDA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VETERAN, OLEG NAYDA, SAYING: "To be honest, it is my third armed conflict. I am from Caucasus, then I lived in Transdniestria. But I never thought this would come to Crimea. But it came. We have to go on with our lives, build up navy forces. I think that we won't be ashamed in front of Odessa people. All the warmth that we brought to Crimea, we'll try to transcend it on to the (Odessa) residents." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING TRAGEDY AT KULIKOVO FIELD VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) NO NAME GIVEN, SAYING: "My granddad fought Nazis, fascists, but what is going on now? We burn the city alive. The military dictatorship is spread all over Ukraine. What is this? There are no words to explain it. I don't know about others, many are scared to take to the streets, but I will do everything."
- Embargoed: 24th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVAMB3ALSG3VITABGPX4ZE7IUIM
- Story Text: Residents in the Ukrainian city of Odessa marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Friday (May 9), with tributes at the Tomb of the Unknown Sailor.
The memorial ceremony comes one week after more than 40 people died in violent clashes between protesters in the multi-ethnic Black Sea port city.
People laid wreaths and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Sailor in the city's Shevchenko Park.
World War Two veteran Oleg Nayda said he had hoped conflict would never reach Crimea.
"To be honest, it is my third armed conflict. I am from Caucasus, then I lived in Transdniestria. But I never thought this would come to Crimea. But it came. We have to go on with our lives, build up navy forces. I think that we won't be ashamed in front of Odessa people. All the warmth that we brought to Crimea, we'll try to transcend it on to the (Odessa) residents," Nayda said.
The city cancelled traditional Victory Day parades to remember the fallen from World War II.
Ukrainian authorities have decided to keep the remembrance to a minimum to avoid clashes between pro-Russian separatists and nationalists who fought on Maidan to bring down Russia's ally deposed president Viktor Yanukovich.
The deaths last week of dozens of people have raised fears that Odessa could become known as the site where Ukraine's regional unrest sparked into nationwide conflict.
One of the Odessa residents who attended the ceremony on Friday said she couldn't understand what was going on with her country.
"My granddad fought Nazis, fascists, but what is going on now? We burn the city alive. The military dictatorship is spread all over Ukraine. What is this? There are no words to explain it. I don't know about others, many are scared to take to the streets, but I will do everything," said the woman, who did not give her name.
At least 37 pro-Russian activists died in a fire last Friday (May 2) following street fighting with soccer supporters chanting anti-Russian slogans.
The fire started after pitched battles pro-Ukrainian protesters say started when the other side fired shots. Amateur video showed police in some streets protecting the pro-Russians as they fired guns at protesters throwing stones.
In total, 46 people were killed that day, including several who died of gunshot wounds. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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