Dozens Dead in Odessa as New Violence Spreads to South Ukraine

What's This?

Ukrainian government supporters dig for stones during a clash with pro-Russians in the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine, Friday, May 2, 2014.

Image: Sergei Poliakov/Associated Press

By Brian Ries2014-05-02 20:07:08 UTC

More than 30 pro-Russian demonstrators are dead in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa following a fire in a government building, the Associated Press reports.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry says the majority died in the fire, while eight were killed when they jumped from the building.

The fire followed street battles between crowds of Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian separatists. Odessa, which sits on the Black Sea 300 miles from Crimea, is Ukraine's third largest city. Until now, the city had largely avoided much of the violence that's swept Ukraine since the EuroMaidan revolution started in November 2013.

See also: This Is What Happened in Ukraine Today

On Friday, however, Odessa was the site of one Ukraine's bloodiest days since dozens were killed in Kiev's Independence Square in February.

How it started

The violence began when two demonstrations — one consisting of pro-Ukrainian nationalists holding a unity march, the other supporters of Russia — collided in a melee of smoke grenades, Molotov cocktails, flares and cobblestone bricks.

Videos posted to YouTube and Instagram show demonstrators from both sides swarming in the town's center, as fire and stones rain down from above. Protesters ripped apart the city's streets, using bricks and stones to arm themselves in the fight and making molotov cocktails out of discarded bottles. Some of the demonstrators appeared to be young teenagers.

A building under siege

As the day wore on, pro-Russian demonstrators swarmed Odessa's trade union building. Ukrainian nationalists allegedly gathered outside, chanting pro-Ukrainian phrases ("Glory to Ukraine!" and "Death to enemies!” according to RT's translation) and throwing Molotov cocktails at the building.

Some of the demonstrators attempted to escape the fire by climbing out of windows — some from three stories high — but for others, the smoke and flames were overwhelming. Dozens died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Warning: this video is extremely graphic:

Video purportedly showing the scene after the flames were extinguished shows soot-covered bodies piled up in rooms throughout the building.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: US & World, World