RT NewsA few hundred Ukrainian protesters rallying at the Russian embassy in Kiev have overturned several diplomatic cars and piled up tires to block entry into the building. They have also and thrown stones, smoke grenades, eggs, and paint at the premises.
Police stood idly by as the anti-Moscow crowd blockaded the site, expressing its anger over the Russian government’s alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
The protesters have thrown a Molotov cocktail at the embassy, causing a minor fire which has been extinguished. As of midnight local time, the situation had calmed down. However, protesters still remain at the site.
The demonstrators also broke pavement and hurled rocks at the embassy’s windows, ITAR-TASS reports.
Посольство #РФ зараз pic.twitter.com/OesNGwKO4E
— ВО Свобода (@vo_svoboda) June 14, 2014
The situation became even more tense as dozens of masked and camouflaged radicals of the Maidan self-defense troops, the Right Sector, and the nationalist Svoboda party joined the protest in the evening. Rocks, smoke grenades, and some explosives were thrown at the embassy from over the fence.
Press-attaché of the Russian diplomatic mission to Ukraine, Oleg Grishin, confirmed to RT that the overturned vehicles belong to embassy staff. Police have attempted to talk to protesters, but refrained from detaining any of them, he said.
“Security is provided by the Ukrainian side. They do not prevent the damage being caused to property of the Russian diplomatic mission and to the facade [of the building],” Grishin told RT over the phone.
The embassy has been effectively blocked by protesters’ cars placed at the entrance, as well as by heaps of tires, Grishin said.
A handful of people with placards reading “Russia go home,” “No vodka!” and slogans insulting Russian President Vladimir Putin initially started picketing near the embassy.
Several protesters hurled eggs, while loud speakers play Ukrainian patriotic songs.
#Ukraine Some #Kiev regime supporters are throwing eggs at the #Russia'n embassy http://t.co/vpwwG9QIzr
— Steiner (@Steiner1776) June 14, 2014
Some of the people appeared aggressive and started barring the embassy’s entrance with tires, witnesses reported.
Embassy of #russia in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/wEKZuhHi3G
— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) June 14, 2014
The protesters defaced the embassy’s sign plate with insults apparently directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin.
https://twitter.com/Dbnmjr/statuses/477797917299068928
Footage from the scene then showed protesters upturning several diplomatic cars parked in front of the embassy. The vehicles also had their number plates ripped off and were covered by graffiti. Someone drew several swastikas in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on one of the cars.
Cars of russian diplomats in front of rus embassy in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/mqrTHDyjIM
— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) June 14, 2014
Во. Теперь видно. Российское посольство. Норм. pic.twitter.com/NLSEJ3JavB
— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) June 14, 2014
The Russian flag flying on a post in the embassy was hooked and dragged down by protesters over the fence. A flag of the nationalist Ukrainian Insurgent Army was then hung at the embassy’s gates.
Russian flag was taken down , embassy, Kyiv pic.twitter.com/w9uohvFa87
— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) June 14, 2014
Some protesters shouted slogans against the Russian government, while others shouted “For our boys!”while throwing eggs at the building – referring to the 49 Ukrainian troops killed when a military transport plane was shot down by self-defense fighters near Lugansk.
The protesters believe Moscow is behind arming and assisting the eastern Ukrainian militia, although no factual evidence of such claims has been presented.
However, calls to gather at the Russian embassy with tires appeared on social media well before the deadly Lugansk incident that took place overnight. Ukrainian agency UNN reported earlier on Saturday that “action in support of the Crimeans of Ukraine” is scheduled to take place in front of the embassy. The activists were told to come in traditional dress “and bring presents to forcibly displaced Crimeans.”
Путінське посольство зараз pic.twitter.com/ZQq1a7LQ02
— ВО Свобода (@vo_svoboda) June 14, 2014
Users on Twitter have compared Saturday’s action with the aftermath of the tragic events in Odessa on May 2 – in which nearly 50 people were killed. Back then, people laid flowers, candles, St. George ribbons, and Ukrainian flags at the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow.
Посольство России в Киеве сегодня и посольство Украины в Москве после трагедии в Одессе. pic.twitter.com/tYmpRhUjXg
— аватар (@quote_velikih) June 14, 2014
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a statement that it will “give legal evaluation” of the protesters’ actions. It did not elaborate further.
Moscow, Washington demand to stop violence in Kiev
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack on the Russian embassy and demanded that Kiev provide security for Russian diplomats.
“Moscow is extremely outraged at the provocative actions of fascist-like thugs in Kiev against the Russian Embassy. Moscow demands the Ukrainian side take all necessary security measures to protect Russian diplomats in Kiev,” the statement said.
No such measures have yet been taken by Kiev, which is a “fragrant violation of Ukraine’s obligations,”the ministry said.
Russia has asked the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to respond to the attack on the Russian embassy in Kiev. A draft resolution on the issue has been introduced to the UNSC.
Украинские националисты атакуют российское посольство #Ukraine #Киев – Фото pic.twitter.com/QSN8Mk05sc
— Антимайдан (@anti_maydan) June 14, 2014
Washington on Saturday spoke out against the violent action and called on Kiev to ensure the security of Russian diplomats.
“The US condemns the attack on the embassy of the Russian Federation in Kiev and calls on the Ukrainian government to fulfill its obligations under the Vienna convention to ensure the necessary security measures,” US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Even when bilateral relations are tense, embassies in all countries must be able to function without interference or threats.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) June 14, 2014
Kiev protesters, press enter Russian embassy for ‘talks’
As night fell in Kiev, calls for storming and torching the embassy grew louder. Activists of the Right Sector and Maidan self-defense decided to pick four “civil society” delegates and four media representatives to be sent to the embassy for “negotiations.”
The group made its way over the fence and entered the hallway of the embassy, where they met with an assistant secretary of the Russian envoy. One of the “delegates” demanded that Russia “admitted its guilt” for allegedly stirring dissent in eastern Ukraine and supporting anti-government activists. In particular, the Saturday night downing of a Ukrainian military plane by Lugansk self-defense troops was mentioned.
The diplomat promised to relay the protesters’ message to the Russian ambassador. The group returned to the crowd and said there was “no dialogue,” and that the top Russian diplomat was absent from the embassy.
Protesters rally outside Ukraine’s embassy in Moscow
Meanwhile about 200 people gathered in front of Ukraine’s embassy in Moscow, Itar-Tass reported. The demonstrators gathered to protest the attack on the Russian embassy in Kiev. The protesters also voiced their opposition towards Kiev’s actions in eastern Ukraine. Some demonstrators carried signs reading, “Free the journalists” and “We won’t forgive for the dead children.”
“Police stood idly by as the anti-Moscow crowd blockaded the site,…”
Now imagine the response had that been here…