On May 2, 2014, in Odessa on Greek Square and Kulikovo Field, there were mass clashes between Euromaidan supporters and participants of the Maidan action and a fire broke out in the House of Trade Unions. At that time, 48 people were killed and more than 200 were injured.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes pictures of Oleg Kutsky, who captured the events in Odessa.
On May 2, 2014, in the center of Odessa, near the Greek Square, mass clashes began. At lunchtime, around three o'clock, fans of the football clubs “Metalist” and “Chernomorets” decided to walk through the streets of Odessa in a peaceful march under the slogan “For a united Ukraine”. The event brought together almost two thousand people. Simultaneously with the march, more than three hundred participants of “Anti-Maidan” gathered, most of whom represented the organization “Odessa Wife”. They planned to move in parallel with the march of football fans and supporters on the Maidan.
The columns crossed near Greek Square. Mass clashes began: participants threw pyrotechnics, “Molotov cocktails” and stones at each other. During the riots, shots were even fired. As a result of the confrontation, six people died from gunshot wounds, and surrounding shop windows, bus stops and cars were smashed.
The confrontation in the city center lasted half a day. Around seven o'clock in the evening, clashes between Euromaidan supporters and participants of the Maidan action moved to Kulikovo Field. They were joined by other football fans who came after the match. The storming of the tent camp near the House of Trade Unions began. When the town was destroyed, more than three hundred people ran to the building of the House of Trade Unions. They were trapped there. Participants continued to throw stones and incendiary mixtures at each other — a fire started in the House of Trade Unions. According to the official version of the investigation, 32 people died from carbon monoxide, another 10 died jumping out of windows. Among the victims were 34 men, 7 women and an underage boy. In total, more than 200 people were injured on May 2, 2014.
Editions “Social. Odesa” reports that the Trade Union House fire started with wooden barricades at the entrance. To understand what was happening that day, journalists and some experts created the May 2 Group, gathering facts and evidence. Chemist and expert of the May 2 Group Vladislav Bilinska explains that the fire later moved to the door and the central hall, which was densely filled with wooden pallets, furniture, bottles with the ignition mixture, and there was also a gasoline generator. Flames engulfed stairwells, particularly the rear of the building. The temperature at the ground floor level reached 600 degrees and 200-300 — on the stairs. The lobby, Vladislav explained, was conditionally a “furnace”, and the stairwell - an “exhaust pipe”.
Smoke began to come out through the rear windows, where there were just a lot of people. There it is convenient to stand and watch the events on the square. For a while, the smoke came out freely, people bent over and moved inside the building. Subsequently, the tank of the gasoline generator exploded, which caused the disaster.
Now the Trade Union House, where the fire and clashes occurred on May 2, 2014, is surrounded by a fence. You can not go to it, here hangs a castle. The dead in this Trade Union House are reminded only of the ribbons inscribed “Eternal Memory” and the fresh flowers that people bring.
Oleg Kutskiy— photographer from Odessa.
The material was created with the support of The Fritt Ord Foundation.
On May 2, 2014, in Odessa on Greek Square and Kulikovo Field, there were mass clashes between Euromaidan supporters and participants of the Maidan action and a fire broke out in the House of Trade Unions. At that time, 48 people were killed and more than 200 were injured.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes pictures of Oleg Kutsky, who captured the events in Odessa.
On May 2, 2014, in the center of Odessa, near the Greek Square, mass clashes began. At lunchtime, around three o'clock, fans of the football clubs “Metalist” and “Chernomorets” decided to walk through the streets of Odessa in a peaceful march under the slogan “For a united Ukraine”. The event brought together almost two thousand people. Simultaneously with the march, more than three hundred participants of “Anti-Maidan” gathered, most of whom represented the organization “Odessa Wife”. They planned to move in parallel with the march of football fans and supporters on the Maidan.
The columns crossed near Greek Square. Mass clashes began: participants threw pyrotechnics, “Molotov cocktails” and stones at each other. During the riots, shots were even fired. As a result of the confrontation, six people died from gunshot wounds, and surrounding shop windows, bus stops and cars were smashed.
The confrontation in the city center lasted half a day. Around seven o'clock in the evening, clashes between Euromaidan supporters and participants of the Maidan action moved to Kulikovo Field. They were joined by other football fans who came after the match. The storming of the tent camp near the House of Trade Unions began. When the town was destroyed, more than three hundred people ran to the building of the House of Trade Unions. They were trapped there. Participants continued to throw stones and incendiary mixtures at each other — a fire started in the House of Trade Unions. According to the official version of the investigation, 32 people died from carbon monoxide, another 10 died jumping out of windows. Among the victims were 34 men, 7 women and an underage boy. In total, more than 200 people were injured on May 2, 2014.
Editions “Social. Odesa” reports that the Trade Union House fire started with wooden barricades at the entrance. To understand what was happening that day, journalists and some experts created the May 2 Group, gathering facts and evidence. Chemist and expert of the May 2 Group Vladislav Bilinska explains that the fire later moved to the door and the central hall, which was densely filled with wooden pallets, furniture, bottles with the ignition mixture, and there was also a gasoline generator. Flames engulfed stairwells, particularly the rear of the building. The temperature at the ground floor level reached 600 degrees and 200-300 — on the stairs. The lobby, Vladislav explained, was conditionally a “furnace”, and the stairwell - an “exhaust pipe”.
Smoke began to come out through the rear windows, where there were just a lot of people. There it is convenient to stand and watch the events on the square. For a while, the smoke came out freely, people bent over and moved inside the building. Subsequently, the tank of the gasoline generator exploded, which caused the disaster.
Now the Trade Union House, where the fire and clashes occurred on May 2, 2014, is surrounded by a fence. You can not go to it, here hangs a castle. The dead in this Trade Union House are reminded only of the ribbons inscribed “Eternal Memory” and the fresh flowers that people bring.
Oleg Kutskiy— photographer from Odessa.
The material was created with the support of The Fritt Ord Foundation.
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