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One Goal in Hand, Kiev’s Demonstrators Vow to Stay ‘Until the End’ One Goal in Hand, Kiev’s Demonstrators Vow to Stay ‘Until the End’
(6 months later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Vasil V. Puhalskyi, a farmer scarred about the face and ringed by veterans of the lethal street clashes here last month, offered an explanation for why, even after chasing President Viktor F. Yanukovych from power, he and his friends had fortified their barricades anew. KIEV, Ukraine — Vasil V. Puhalskyi, a farmer scarred about the face and ringed by veterans of the lethal street clashes here last month, offered an explanation for why, even after chasing President Viktor F. Yanukovych from power, he and his friends had fortified their barricades anew.
Those who stood up to Ukraine’s ousted authorities trust neither their interim government nor Russia, he said, and so will remain in place at least through elections in late spring. Only then will they decide if they are satisfied enough to leave their fighting positions in the capital’s central square.Those who stood up to Ukraine’s ousted authorities trust neither their interim government nor Russia, he said, and so will remain in place at least through elections in late spring. Only then will they decide if they are satisfied enough to leave their fighting positions in the capital’s central square.
“We will stand until the end,” Mr. Puhalskyi said.“We will stand until the end,” Mr. Puhalskyi said.
The end for Ukraine’s fighters and demonstrators has proved elusive, and it is nowhere near in sight.The end for Ukraine’s fighters and demonstrators has proved elusive, and it is nowhere near in sight.
Even after the opposition’s surprise victory late last month, and after threats of a large-scale military invasion from Russia have appeared to subside in recent days, Independence Square, or Maidan, and its surrounding streets remain a nationalist encampment, at once grieving, proud and preparing for another fight, should it come.Even after the opposition’s surprise victory late last month, and after threats of a large-scale military invasion from Russia have appeared to subside in recent days, Independence Square, or Maidan, and its surrounding streets remain a nationalist encampment, at once grieving, proud and preparing for another fight, should it come.
Its volunteer street fighters have donned new camouflage uniforms and patrol on foot with batons. Barricades have been rebuilt and hardened with stones and bricks that might stop bullets. Firewood and food are stacked high, as if the camp were still besieged. Firebombs and tires that can serve as fuel for a flaming wall remain within reach, although no foe masses on the streets.Its volunteer street fighters have donned new camouflage uniforms and patrol on foot with batons. Barricades have been rebuilt and hardened with stones and bricks that might stop bullets. Firewood and food are stacked high, as if the camp were still besieged. Firebombs and tires that can serve as fuel for a flaming wall remain within reach, although no foe masses on the streets.
Activists have continued to organize as if nothing gained is yet secure.Activists have continued to organize as if nothing gained is yet secure.
Aware of the failures of the Orange Revolution — peaceful demonstrations in 2004 that overturned a rigged election but served to install a government that itself was soon sapped by incompetence and corruption — the opposition of 2014 says its battle-hardened ranks must serve as a check against another political betrayal.Aware of the failures of the Orange Revolution — peaceful demonstrations in 2004 that overturned a rigged election but served to install a government that itself was soon sapped by incompetence and corruption — the opposition of 2014 says its battle-hardened ranks must serve as a check against another political betrayal.
“Now we have a period of transition, from old times of the regime to a new government,” said Vasyl Rozhko, a young architect who is a coordinator for Maidan Self-Defense, the umbrella group of fighters whose tents fill the avenues here. “Many people are afraid of the same developments that came after 2004. They are afraid of being disappointed like last time.”“Now we have a period of transition, from old times of the regime to a new government,” said Vasyl Rozhko, a young architect who is a coordinator for Maidan Self-Defense, the umbrella group of fighters whose tents fill the avenues here. “Many people are afraid of the same developments that came after 2004. They are afraid of being disappointed like last time.”
At the center of this sustained street presence are the sotni, the midsize and seemingly well-organized groups of fighters who resisted the Yanukovych government’s attempts to clear the square by force, and who remain in place on their battlefield.At the center of this sustained street presence are the sotni, the midsize and seemingly well-organized groups of fighters who resisted the Yanukovych government’s attempts to clear the square by force, and who remain in place on their battlefield.
There are more than 45 sotni now, organizers say. Many have roots outside Kiev, mostly in Ukraine’s west.There are more than 45 sotni now, organizers say. Many have roots outside Kiev, mostly in Ukraine’s west.
Mr. Puhalskyi is a member of Sotnya No. 17, from Chernivtsi. Tents along the streets are adorned with each unit’s banner, often declaring their origins.Mr. Puhalskyi is a member of Sotnya No. 17, from Chernivtsi. Tents along the streets are adorned with each unit’s banner, often declaring their origins.
In front of Parliament, young men of Sotnya No. 4, from Lviv, sat around a barrel stove in the cold mist and watched police officers in helmets walk around them, resuming at least a small fraction of their duties.In front of Parliament, young men of Sotnya No. 4, from Lviv, sat around a barrel stove in the cold mist and watched police officers in helmets walk around them, resuming at least a small fraction of their duties.
Taras Shulok, 19, served as a squad leader in a parallel force, simultaneously accepting the traditional police while offering a show of revolutionary presence at the entrance to Parliament.Taras Shulok, 19, served as a squad leader in a parallel force, simultaneously accepting the traditional police while offering a show of revolutionary presence at the entrance to Parliament.
He wore a new arm patch and carried a black baton. He said the opposition and the interim government could for the moment coexist. “They are normal, ordinary people, like us,” Mr. Shulok said of the police.He wore a new arm patch and carried a black baton. He said the opposition and the interim government could for the moment coexist. “They are normal, ordinary people, like us,” Mr. Shulok said of the police.
But in interviews with other opposition fighters, who call themselves sotniki, the refrain about short-term plans was the same.But in interviews with other opposition fighters, who call themselves sotniki, the refrain about short-term plans was the same.
Resistance groups will not demobilize, much less disband, until a new government has been elected and evaluated. “I need time to judge the situation,” Mr. Shulok said.Resistance groups will not demobilize, much less disband, until a new government has been elected and evaluated. “I need time to judge the situation,” Mr. Shulok said.
Until then, the opposition intends to exercise both a practical and symbolic authority, a front-line force even if no longer under direct physical threat.Until then, the opposition intends to exercise both a practical and symbolic authority, a front-line force even if no longer under direct physical threat.
Mr. Rozhko said such a presence was necessary for the police even to reassume their posts. “We are patrolling with the police together,” he said, “because some of the police are afraid and the people are still angry.”Mr. Rozhko said such a presence was necessary for the police even to reassume their posts. “We are patrolling with the police together,” he said, “because some of the police are afraid and the people are still angry.”
Russia and its potential actions also serve as wild cards.Russia and its potential actions also serve as wild cards.
The sotni formed in the tradition of western Ukraine’s World War II-era guerrillas, men who fought for Ukrainian independence even after the war, fighting the Soviets well into the 1950s. Some of the groups are nationalistic to the point of being ultra-right-wing. Among them, at least on the margins, are factions that many fellow Ukrainians regard as anti-Semitic and reactionary, including Right Sector, which commands Sotnya No. 23.The sotni formed in the tradition of western Ukraine’s World War II-era guerrillas, men who fought for Ukrainian independence even after the war, fighting the Soviets well into the 1950s. Some of the groups are nationalistic to the point of being ultra-right-wing. Among them, at least on the margins, are factions that many fellow Ukrainians regard as anti-Semitic and reactionary, including Right Sector, which commands Sotnya No. 23.
Artem Skoropadsky, the Right Sector’s press secretary, took pains to distinguish its members from the rest of the opposition. But he said they shared certain goals, including serving as a check against abuses or halfhearted overhauls by any new authorities.Artem Skoropadsky, the Right Sector’s press secretary, took pains to distinguish its members from the rest of the opposition. But he said they shared certain goals, including serving as a check against abuses or halfhearted overhauls by any new authorities.
“Now it is clear that we can influence the government and the government structures,” he said. In the medium-term, he said, Right Sector hoped to win enough votes in elections in May to become a formal party.“Now it is clear that we can influence the government and the government structures,” he said. In the medium-term, he said, Right Sector hoped to win enough votes in elections in May to become a formal party.
Until then, he said, its ranks would remain on the square. He also said that the group was wary that Russia could portray any further actions by its members as the work of fascists, so its leaders forbade members from traveling to Ukraine’s east.Until then, he said, its ranks would remain on the square. He also said that the group was wary that Russia could portray any further actions by its members as the work of fascists, so its leaders forbade members from traveling to Ukraine’s east.
“We are not going on purpose to the eastern part of Ukraine because Russia claims our party is extremists and terrorists, and this would make the situation even worse,” Mr. Skoropadsky said. “It would make it easier for the occupiers to act.”“We are not going on purpose to the eastern part of Ukraine because Russia claims our party is extremists and terrorists, and this would make the situation even worse,” Mr. Skoropadsky said. “It would make it easier for the occupiers to act.”
For now, the more mainstream groups have also publicly insisted they will not rush to meet Russian incursions in Crimea or take up border duties in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian sentiments run strong. Their status quo posture, they said, was to avoid provoking further Russian military moves.For now, the more mainstream groups have also publicly insisted they will not rush to meet Russian incursions in Crimea or take up border duties in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian sentiments run strong. Their status quo posture, they said, was to avoid provoking further Russian military moves.
In the event of a large-scale military escalation, however, many sotniki said they would form a kernel of armed resistance. In this case, they said, they would fight either as guerrillas, as part of a national guard to supplement Ukraine’s army or both.In the event of a large-scale military escalation, however, many sotniki said they would form a kernel of armed resistance. In this case, they said, they would fight either as guerrillas, as part of a national guard to supplement Ukraine’s army or both.
Roman Kendziora, 56, a mechanical engineer and member of Sotnya No. 14, from Kolomyia, said that if the opposition formed paramilitary units and took up infantry arms, the result would be formidable. “The people who were fighting the police of Yanukovych with wooden shields?” he said. “Imagine what they could do with real weapons.”Roman Kendziora, 56, a mechanical engineer and member of Sotnya No. 14, from Kolomyia, said that if the opposition formed paramilitary units and took up infantry arms, the result would be formidable. “The people who were fighting the police of Yanukovych with wooden shields?” he said. “Imagine what they could do with real weapons.”
As he spoke beside the large canvas tent that serves as his group’s barracks, a memorial service began for Volodymyr Topij, 59, of Sotnya No. 12 from Vyshnya.As he spoke beside the large canvas tent that serves as his group’s barracks, a memorial service began for Volodymyr Topij, 59, of Sotnya No. 12 from Vyshnya.
Mr. Topij had been wounded in the clashes. He died Monday.Mr. Topij had been wounded in the clashes. He died Monday.
His fellow sotniki carried his remains through the encampment, chanting, “Glory, glory, glory,” then stood before the stage while priests led the crowd in prayer.His fellow sotniki carried his remains through the encampment, chanting, “Glory, glory, glory,” then stood before the stage while priests led the crowd in prayer.
Mr. Kendziora offered another reason he and his fellow opposition members were not dismantling their defenses and returning home. Many of those who occupied the square were both traumatized and intensely proud that they withstood every effort to crush them.Mr. Kendziora offered another reason he and his fellow opposition members were not dismantling their defenses and returning home. Many of those who occupied the square were both traumatized and intensely proud that they withstood every effort to crush them.
Mr. Kendziora said he remained in a state of vigilance, readiness and nervousness, and could barely sleep. Like many sotniki, he said, he is psychologically unable to depart ground won by blood.Mr. Kendziora said he remained in a state of vigilance, readiness and nervousness, and could barely sleep. Like many sotniki, he said, he is psychologically unable to depart ground won by blood.