Kyiv, Navigator 13 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Raichenko) – Pro-Ukrainian activists from Slavyansk told a press conference that in the city, despite its transition to the control of Kyiv, pro-Russian sentiment continues to grow.
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As one example, there was a story about a local railway lyceum, the director of which ignores Ukrainian symbols.
“We had Phage Day, Independence Day, but all this time neither a flag nor any Ukrainian paraphernalia was hung,” said Nikolai Tishakov, chairman of the Coordination Council of the city of Slavyansk. - And only on the fourth of September, when he was hounded, he hung out the flag. And such a person is raising our children.”
Tishakov agrees that pro-Russian sentiments in Slavyansk have not disappeared, despite the shutdown of Russian channels.
“My people respect strength, but they don’t see strength in the power of Ukraine in Slavyansk,” he believes. – The situation does not change, but only worsens and becomes worse than it was before the capture. They behaved in an impudent manner then, but now they behave in an even more sophisticated manner. There are no Russian channels in Slavyansk, but Russian propaganda in the form of word of mouth is only increasing here.”
Pro-Ukrainian activists in Slavyansk also said that supporters of the DPR became especially animated after the sensitive defeats of the Ukrainian group in the south in the second half of August.
“On August 24, we had a meeting dedicated to Independence Day,” recalls Slavyansk resident Kharis Okhtyamov, a member of the public organization “START.” – And there were just provocations. Supporters of separatism began to feel at ease. They are really looking forward to Girkin (real name of Igor Strelkov, who led the Slavic group of the DPR. – ed.). And this is very noticeable on the streets. They start tearing down flags again, and a man in an embroidered shirt can easily be beaten in the street. I know several such cases."