Maidan revolution: Ukrainians mark anniversary of 2014 protests that ousted pro-Russian leader

1000’s of individuals in Ukraine turned out on Sunday to mark the date on which, eight years in the past, over 100 individuals have been killed throughout mass protests that ousted the nation’s Russia-friendly president

The individuals, referred to as ‘The Heavenly Hundred’ are commemorated annually on February 20, to mark the day in 2014 when riot police opened fireplace on protesters.

Ukrainians, together with former President Pietro Poroshenko, laid wreaths at a memorial in Kyiv’s Maidan Sq..

The clashes which began on February 18 ended within the fall of the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych. “Individuals who died listed below are our heroes and we’ve got to recollect them,” one native resident stated.

“We have to do not forget that individuals gave their lives for Ukraine and for our European future,” stated Pietro, a painter who was displaced from the Donetsk area and is now dwelling in Kyiv.

1000’s of individuals in Ukraine’s port metropolis of Odessa additionally marched by way of the streets in a present of unity on Sunday, marking the date.

Waving nationwide flags and placards with slogans equivalent to, “Odesa is Ukraine” and ‘No Putin, No Cry’, individuals stated they’d come to reveal towards a possible Russian invasion, and stated that they have been ready to battle for his or her metropolis.

“We wish to present that residents of Odessa in addition to all of Ukrainians will help our sovereignty and can battle occupants wherever and each time,” stated pupil, Oleksey Voronko.

The unrest started in November 2013 following the Ukrainian authorities’s determination to droop preparations for an affiliation treaty with the European Union and to hunt nearer financial relations with Russia.

After the autumn of the Yanukovych authorities, Russia annexed Crimea and and supported rebels in Ukraine’s east in a battle that has killed over 14,000 individuals since 2014.

The commemorations come as tensions mount within the area, with Western leaders warning that Russia was poised to assault its neighbour, which is now surrounded on three sides by about 150,000 Russian troopers, warplanes and tools.

Sunday was additionally the date Russia’s navy workout routines have been scheduled to complete, with a promised pullback of Russian troops from Ukraine’s borders.

Nevertheless Belarus’ defence ministry introduced that Russian troops would stay in Belarus indefinitely because of the “escalation of the scenario” within the Donbas area.