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| Ukraine crisis: Country's richest man steps into the breach to help calm Donbas region | Ukraine crisis: Country's richest man steps into the breach to help calm Donbas region |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Separatists and nationalists have vied for the control of Mariupol over the past two weeks but now Ukraine’s richest man has entered the power vacuum to provide stability for his businesses and workers. | Separatists and nationalists have vied for the control of Mariupol over the past two weeks but now Ukraine’s richest man has entered the power vacuum to provide stability for his businesses and workers. |
| The miners and metalworkers employed by Rinat Akhmetov have joined police on patrol in Mariupol and have begun to clear up the mess left by the clashes. For the time being, the forces of Russia and Kiev have departed. | The miners and metalworkers employed by Rinat Akhmetov have joined police on patrol in Mariupol and have begun to clear up the mess left by the clashes. For the time being, the forces of Russia and Kiev have departed. |
| Nicolai Vorodinov was part of an angry crowd confronting troops last week. Today he was on patrol with police officers removing the last of the barricades from the streets while fellow steelworkers and miners helped restore power and water, repair looted shops and keep traffic flowing. | Nicolai Vorodinov was part of an angry crowd confronting troops last week. Today he was on patrol with police officers removing the last of the barricades from the streets while fellow steelworkers and miners helped restore power and water, repair looted shops and keep traffic flowing. |
| For a time it had looked as if Mariupol would be where eastern Ukraine slid into civil war. Now that prospect no longer seems inevitable. | For a time it had looked as if Mariupol would be where eastern Ukraine slid into civil war. Now that prospect no longer seems inevitable. |
| Mr Akhmetov, the biggest employer in the area and the owner of Shakhtar Donetsk football club, has found a “third way” between nationalism and separatism. | Mr Akhmetov, the biggest employer in the area and the owner of Shakhtar Donetsk football club, has found a “third way” between nationalism and separatism. |
| His workers at the Metinvest steel foundry and DTEK energy company said they wanted to prevent a repeat of events last week when the police headquarters was destroyed and dead bodies lay in the streets. | His workers at the Metinvest steel foundry and DTEK energy company said they wanted to prevent a repeat of events last week when the police headquarters was destroyed and dead bodies lay in the streets. |
| “The day these things came into our city, the day the soldiers were shooting at people, we decided that the people in Kiev had declared war on us. We will defend ourselves if necessary, but … we do not want war – we want the Donbas to be normal again”, said Mr Vorodinov. | “The day these things came into our city, the day the soldiers were shooting at people, we decided that the people in Kiev had declared war on us. We will defend ourselves if necessary, but … we do not want war – we want the Donbas to be normal again”, said Mr Vorodinov. |
| He pointed at two abandoned armoured personnel carriers on the side of the road. “Look at these. We can’t leave these lying here; they have to be taken to a secure place. We have people treating these as toys,” he said. | He pointed at two abandoned armoured personnel carriers on the side of the road. “Look at these. We can’t leave these lying here; they have to be taken to a secure place. We have people treating these as toys,” he said. |
| The workers are also concerned for their jobs. Leonid Victorovich, a steel worker, said: “There are people in these parts who think joining Russia will make them rich. Older people will tell you that they get three times higher pension across the border. But all that will be no good if the mines and factories are closed down. | The workers are also concerned for their jobs. Leonid Victorovich, a steel worker, said: “There are people in these parts who think joining Russia will make them rich. Older people will tell you that they get three times higher pension across the border. But all that will be no good if the mines and factories are closed down. |
| “Look, a lot of people in the masks who were causing trouble don’t work. They do not care. Why else would they just destroy things?” | “Look, a lot of people in the masks who were causing trouble don’t work. They do not care. Why else would they just destroy things?” |
| Pro-Russian militants take their positions using an armored personnel carrier preparing to fight against Ukrainian government troops outside Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine (AP) Mr Akhmetov’s influence extends beyond Mariupol and he is believed to have played both sides in this confrontation. Pavel Gubarev, the self-styled “People’s Governor” recently freed by the Kiev authorities claimed Mr Akhmetov had funded part of the separatist movement. But when Arsenyi? Yatsenyuk, the interim Prime Minister, visited Donetsk, he made sure he met the billionaire to ask for his help. | |
| Mr Akhmetov says independence for the east would be an economic disaster. The next step envisaged by the separatists, rule by the Kremlin, would be even more so. Russia, he points out, does not need more coal and steel and would be unlikely to keep subsidising these industries in the region. | Mr Akhmetov says independence for the east would be an economic disaster. The next step envisaged by the separatists, rule by the Kremlin, would be even more so. Russia, he points out, does not need more coal and steel and would be unlikely to keep subsidising these industries in the region. |
| Mr Akhmetov believe it is vital for Donbas to stay in a united Ukraine, albeit one with far more autonomy. Ukraine’s presidential elections, banned by the Peoples’ Republic, should also be held in the region, he says, to stop it being disenfranchised. | Mr Akhmetov believe it is vital for Donbas to stay in a united Ukraine, albeit one with far more autonomy. Ukraine’s presidential elections, banned by the Peoples’ Republic, should also be held in the region, he says, to stop it being disenfranchised. |
| Volodymyr Fesenko, an independent analyst, says Mr Akhmetov has recognised that his earlier, passive tactics did not work in his favour as the rebellion has continued to grip the region. “He will have to become an active intermediary between separatists and the government,” Mr Fesenko told Reuters. | Volodymyr Fesenko, an independent analyst, says Mr Akhmetov has recognised that his earlier, passive tactics did not work in his favour as the rebellion has continued to grip the region. “He will have to become an active intermediary between separatists and the government,” Mr Fesenko told Reuters. |
| At the Mariupol city hall, which changed hands between separatists and nationalists through several days of fighting, Mr Akhmetov’s workers and local people cleared the remaining debris from outside the charred building. | At the Mariupol city hall, which changed hands between separatists and nationalists through several days of fighting, Mr Akhmetov’s workers and local people cleared the remaining debris from outside the charred building. |
| Anya Rukosova watched the work with her two young daughters: “Of course these guys will get the support of the people. The situation was getting worse and worse. We were worried about our families,” she said. | Anya Rukosova watched the work with her two young daughters: “Of course these guys will get the support of the people. The situation was getting worse and worse. We were worried about our families,” she said. |
| Ms Rukosova, 38, said she was confused by the separatist’s recent referendum. “I wanted autonomy, not independence, but the question [on the ballot paper] wasn’t clear. Most of us don’t want to join Russia. What we want is the money from the Donbas to stay here and not all go to Kiev”. | Ms Rukosova, 38, said she was confused by the separatist’s recent referendum. “I wanted autonomy, not independence, but the question [on the ballot paper] wasn’t clear. Most of us don’t want to join Russia. What we want is the money from the Donbas to stay here and not all go to Kiev”. |
| Yuri Ryzhenkov, the chief executive of Metinvest, described how “officials” of the Peoples’ Republic had visited one of his factories. “They were suspicious at first, a bit aggressive. But they knew they were dealing with steelworkers and miners, people who don’t like being bullied. But most importantly, this city supports this, and they will not accept the work being stopped,” he said. | Yuri Ryzhenkov, the chief executive of Metinvest, described how “officials” of the Peoples’ Republic had visited one of his factories. “They were suspicious at first, a bit aggressive. But they knew they were dealing with steelworkers and miners, people who don’t like being bullied. But most importantly, this city supports this, and they will not accept the work being stopped,” he said. |