A view of the city of Donetsk from a window of Radio Republic, the official radio station of the self proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic", on June 18, 2014. The pro-Russian separatist authorities have set up both a radio station and a television channel to give out public service announcements, promote their views and recruit fighters.
DONETSK, Ukraine - As separatists seize more buildings in Donetsk, the streets of the eastern Ukrainian city of more than 1 million people remain largely deserted as support for Kremlin-backed separatists appears to be ebbing.
As of June 19, groups of unknown armed men who identify themselves as activists of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic are present in several administrative buildings in the city, according to the press service of Donetsk Oblast administration. These involve some of the city’s police stations, the Donetsk city treasury and city prosecutor’s office. Armed men are also still control the Donetsk Oblast administration building.
Previously, on June 16, separatists have also seized buildings of National Bank of Ukraine and a local tax office. Eyewitnesses have said that during the operation, when approximately 40 armed men entered the national bank, several streets around the building were shut down by police officers who appeared to be cooperating with separatists.
However, the next day all seized bodies were operating again normally as Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko boasted about successful negotiations. Then head of the National Bank, Stepan Kubiv, has confirmed that the bank restored its operations and moved many of its activities to Kyiv.
The only building in Donetsk which separatists clearly seem in control of is the building of the Donetsk Oblast administration. Considered their headquarters in the city, it hosts separatists’ so-called cabinet of ministers. But even this building does not seem under the separatists’ control. Barricades around it are gone. From the outside, the building looks largely abandoned with no people going in or out.
Most of the barricades erected in the city in spring are also either abandoned or are laxly guarded by one or two volunteers in poor ammunition.
The flag of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic is flying over very few administrative buildings, while all of them still have Ukrainian national symbols on facades.
While the city has remained largely quiet, few people dare to go to the city center even in daylight. Many of the local businesses, including shops, cafes and some banks have temporarily suspended operation.
Many have left the city. According to United Nations data, 34,000 Ukrainians have moved out of Donetsk Oblast because of the unrest in eastern Ukraine. Many of those who remain are afraid to discuss politics.
Many of those who stayed have lost their incomes, locals complain.
“There are no projects now, so we earn nothing. Many companies have suspended their activity temporarily, those who are still operating do not even make ends meet,” says local businessman Yan, who refused to give his last name out of fear of revenge.
Many shops, restaurants and bars were looted and are now meeting place for vagrants and drunks
Locals say that many of those who supported the separatists at first have become disappointed and just want the region to go back to its previous life.
“There was euphoria among pro-Russian people and those nostalgic for the USSR. They thought they would be overtaken by Russia and have higher salaries at their factories and higher pensions. But the Crimean scenario did not take place here. When all looting and anti-terrorist operation started, many DNR supporters got disappointed. Very few people support DNR now,” says local NGO activist Serhiy, who declined to give his last name out of fear of revenge.
The last sociological survey which was conducted by activists of Democratic alliance political party on May 4, showed 72,8 per cent support for united Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast.
Nothing illustrates this better than the June 18 demonstration of Donetsk miners who marched the city, demanding to stop the anti terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. Only few hundred people participated - a sharp contrast to large pro-Russian demonstrations attended by thousands in central Donetsk in spring.
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