2014 Odesa clashes

In early 2014, there were clashes between rival groups of protesters in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, during the pro-Russian unrest that followed the Ukrainian Revolution. On one side were 'pro-Maidan' groups who supported the revolution and a united Ukraine; on the other side were 'anti-Maidan' and pro-Russian separatist groups. There were far-right elements on both sides. The clashes resulted in 48 people being killed and hundreds wounded. They took place during the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and the War in Donbas, where Russian-backed paramilitaries had taken over parts of eastern Ukraine. The worst violence was on 2 May. Ahead of a football match, a 'United Ukraine' rally was held in Odesa city centre. This march was attacked at Hretska Square by pro-Russian separatists with stones, petrol bombs and homemade grenades. The first shots were fired by a pro-Russian gunman with an AK-74, killing a United Ukraine marcher. In the clashes that followed, both sides exchanged gunfire, resulting in the deaths of another pro-Ukraine activist and four pro-Russia activists, while dozens were wounded. The police were accused of inaction and of siding with the pro-Russian group. The pro-Ukraine group then moved to destroy a pro-Russian protest camp at Kulykove Pole. Some pro-Russian activists barricaded themselves in the Unions House overlooking the square, then opened fire and threw missiles from the roof and windows. Some of the pro-Ukraine group returned fire and attempted to storm the building, which caught fire as the two groups threw petrol bombs at each other. While at least one of the fires seems to have been started by those outside the building, most seem to have been caused accidentally from inside. The clashes resulted in the deaths of 48 people, 46 of whom were anti-Maidan/pro-Russian activists; 34 died of suffocation in the Unions House fire...