Far-right group says it aims to ‘open second front’ against government (UKRAINE)
source : kyivpost.com
Author:Oleg SukhovAll articles by this author
Oleg Sukhov is a former Moscow Times editor and reporter and a graduate of Moscow State University. He also used to teach history and the theory of knowledge in English at the European Gymnasium in Moscow.More about Oleg Sukhov
A protester argues with police during an anti-government protest on Independence Square in Kyiv on Feb. 20.
Photo by Volodymyr Petrov
The Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces, an ultra-nationalist group that set up a protest camp on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv on Feb. 20, says it aims to “open a second front” against the government – in addition to the war front in eastern Ukraine.
The group set up about 10 tents on Maidan Nezalezhnosti and took over part of the nearby Kozatsky Hotel to establish its headquarters there. The Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces also engaged in minor scuffles with National Guard units over the setting up of tents and a stage for a rally on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.
They called for impeaching the president, dissolving the Cabinet, introducing martial law and annulling the Feb. 12, 2015 Minsk ceasefire agreement.
Gromov said, however, that protesters would avoid any provocations and would demonstrate peacefully. But if the authorities use force against protesters, the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces are ready to confront the government, he added.
Gromov said, however, that protesters would avoid any provocations and would demonstrate peacefully. But if the authorities use force against protesters, the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces are ready to confront the government, he added.
“These guys have war experience, and they are ready to die for the Ukrainian nation,” he said.
The Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces split from another nationalist group, the Right Sector, last November.
Gromov accused Dmytro Yarosh, the Right Sector’s former leader, of treason and of working for either Ukrainian or Russian intelligence agencies.
The Right Sector said on Feb. 21 that the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces were working against it and accused the group of trying to organize provocations.
Apart from former Right Sector members, the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces include war veterans from the Aidar and UNA-UNSO volunteer units and representatives of the Bily Molot (White Hammer) far-right group.
Gromov accused Dmytro Yarosh, the Right Sector’s former leader, of treason and of working for either Ukrainian or Russian intelligence agencies.
The Right Sector said on Feb. 21 that the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces were working against it and accused the group of trying to organize provocations.
Apart from former Right Sector members, the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces include war veterans from the Aidar and UNA-UNSO volunteer units and representatives of the Bily Molot (White Hammer) far-right group.
The group also comprises several Western Ukrainian battalions that recently split from the Right Sector’s military arm, Andriy Faflei, commander of Zakhid-4 – one of the battalions – told Ukrainian television channel 1+1.
Gromov estimated the number if the group's members at about 1,000 war veterans and about 1,000 civilians.
The group does not have a single leader and is run by headquarters comprising about 10 to 15 people, Gromov said.
The group does not have a single leader and is run by headquarters comprising about 10 to 15 people, Gromov said.
"We cherish democratic Cossack traditions and don't want to allow one person to take all power," he added.
However, Faflei told 1+1 that the Revolutionary Right-Wing Forces’ leader is Roman Stoiko, a former Right Sector member accused of taking part in clashes with the police in the city of Mukacheve last year.
Kyiv Post staff writer Oleg Sukhov can be reached at sukhov@kyivpost.com.
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