Anger and grief on Ukraine Day of Mourning for downed military plane
- 10 years ago
Feelings ran high as hundreds of Ukrainians gathered in Kyiv’s Independence Square on Sunday to mark a national day of mourning for 49 people killed when their military transport plane was downed by pro-Russia militants.
But grief was mixed with anger and demands that more action be taken against the separatists.
“Ukrainians are very concerned about Ukraine’s destiny but we can’t see the same from the authorities,” said activist Tetyana Hudoliy.
“ We need changes, changes and more changes. That is why we come to Maidan.”
The plane, carrying 40 paratroopers and nine crew, was hit early on Saturday while coming in to land at an airport near the city of Luhansk, a centre of the rebellion in east Ukraine.
As government forces pursue their operation against the breakaway fighters, some residents in the east are seeking refuge over the border in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said that around 5,000 people have been arriving every day from Ukraine in this region alone.
But grief was mixed with anger and demands that more action be taken against the separatists.
“Ukrainians are very concerned about Ukraine’s destiny but we can’t see the same from the authorities,” said activist Tetyana Hudoliy.
“ We need changes, changes and more changes. That is why we come to Maidan.”
The plane, carrying 40 paratroopers and nine crew, was hit early on Saturday while coming in to land at an airport near the city of Luhansk, a centre of the rebellion in east Ukraine.
As government forces pursue their operation against the breakaway fighters, some residents in the east are seeking refuge over the border in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said that around 5,000 people have been arriving every day from Ukraine in this region alone.