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MORE THAN 30 people have died in a “criminal” blaze in Ukraine’s southern city of Odessa after a day of violent clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian militants.
Ukraine’s interior ministry gave a toll of at least 31 dead, revising down an earlier tally of 38 killed.
It said the fire had a “criminal” source but did not elaborate, nor did the ministry immediately identify the victims.
Some local media reported that pro-Russian militants were believed to have been in the building at the time, and that petrol bombs were lobbed between the building and a group of pro-Kiev militants.
That information could not be immediately confirmed however.
The interior ministry said most of those killed died of smoke inhalation, while others were killed trying to escape by jumping out of windows.
Earlier, clashes between the pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian protesters killed four people.
It was the first eruption of violence in the south after weeks of mounting unrest in Ukraine’s east.
Odessa, a city of one million inhabitants, is located on the Black Sea coast, close to the border with Moldova and its breakaway state of Transdniestr, where Russia has troops stationed since a short war in 1992.
Ukraine’s Western-backed government accuses Russia of fomenting the rebellion taking over swathes of its eastern territory.
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Madness
Madness? THIS IS EARTH!
Could imagine the headline if it was Pro-Russians burning Pro-Kiev supporters.
“More than 30 killed in ‘criminal’ fire in Ukraine”?
Serious fighting between both sides all day and the police did nothing, there are tonnes of videos and images. The pro Russian mob retreated into the building and the pro Maidan protestors set it on fire then, harrowing scenes with images of people hanging out if windows before dropping to their death! I think this could be the start of widespread conflict, and both sides are as much to blame as the other!
The ethnic cleansing of Pro Russian speaking nationals has commenced in Ukraine.
This will get serious.
Everybody in Odessa speaks Russian Frank, so that kite won’t fly.
Putins subterfuge had tragic results today, but obviously Odessa isn’t going to fall under the kosh as easily as Crimea did. Pity they are breaking up the pavements, it’s hard enough to walk around Odessa as it is, such is the state of the sidewalks.
Are they?! The anti-government protesters had a tent camp in front of the building, when they were attacked by right sector militants and hid in the building. Then it was burned down, with them in it. They were equally guilty?
Milena I mean both sides are as guilty as each other if a civil war erupts in Ukraine, obviously the pro Kiev thugs were responsible for nearly all the killings today by setting the building on fire, I don’t even think their most ardent supporter can defend their actions today! Mick Jordan and Jason and friends are conspicuous by their absence on this thread, they are usually the first to comment on Ukraine related stories.
Pat Mustard …Mick Jordan Jason and Jay Carney have all to watch Fox News first before they can make up a coherent explanation as to why this horror happened Mick Jordan is checking out names and address of all anti commentators Jason I expect will shortly deliver a verdict of mass suicide
What about the pro-Kiev protesters who were shot earlier in Odessa and the Peaceful rally that was attacked by armed Russian thugs (the cossacks are good at that kind of thing) and the Ukrainian pilots – you conveniently didn’t see that on RT.
Pat we don’t know what happened yet -if innocent people were killed in that fire then it is an appalling crime and those responsible should be punished but you ignored the story about the pro-Kiev protesters and the pilot who were murdered today -so stop being such a hypocrite.
Rob explain to me how I am a hypocrite?? I said both sides were to blame for the violence today and both are as bad as each other. I also said the the pro Maidan protestors were responsible for nearly all the deaths today which is true. Every media outlet is reporting that the building was set on fire and there is plenty of online coverage showing who did it. Nearly all the fatalities today were as a result of this fire, either carbon monoxide poisons or people jumping to their death fleeing the flames and Ukrainian officials have confirmed as much. Obviously the anti Kiev protestors were responsible for several deaths but the pro Kiev protestors killed more today than the entire total attributed to the separatists since this crisis begun!
What are you guys talking. there is innocent people are dead and all because two leader of biggest countries can not decide whose balls bigger and stronger
The corporate controlled mainstream media has done a great job in convincing people that Russia is the big bad wolf. This is just western oligarchs moving in on Russian oligarchs territory and the reaction would be the same if Russia staged a coup in a vassel state of the west. No love for either but we know who the aggressor is in this.
Actually, what it really boils down to is Exxon/Chevron vs Gasprom. There’s resources in Ukraine that the Yanks want to get their hands on. Unfortunately for them they didn’t reckon with the Russian Bear just over the border.
The fun is only just beginning. Pass the popcorn. This is going to be a long one.
They’re not Yanks or have anything in common with Americans. They have no affiliation with any nation, they’re just tools at their disposal. Their only affiliation is with money and power.
WW3 is slowly brewing, Russia, China and a few nutters in North Korea Vs rest of world…
It can’t come soon enough
You watch too much western mainstream media.
As Leonard Cohen would say: “First we take Crimea. Then we take Berlin”.
Expect to see the Hammer and Sickle flag on the Reichstag any day now. And on Leinster House a few days after that.
Would be great craic!
Paul go watch some Rambo movies and the mad hatter. You watch Fox News too?
Don’t worry it will be over in hours
And the original Red Dawn while he’s at it. Maybe they should resurrect Patrick Swayze and put him to work. Russia would fall in no time. Throw in Eamon Gilmore and all bets are off.
Tom Collins……
After the Carpet Bombing of course.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/02/360933/us-upgrading-dozens-of-b52h-bombers/
“Tom Collins……
After the Carpet Bombing of course.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/02/360933/us-upgrading-dozens-of-b52h-bombers/”
As I pointed out to you in the last article, that upgrade process already began in 2013 which was well before the Ukrainian Crisis began.
As if this illegal coup was only planned just a few months ago….
who do you think we are…
and the annexation of Crimea was planned after that in a matter of weeks? and the military exercises just happened to coincide after putin’s vainglorious homophobic olympics? This all happened in a few weeks? you believ that Frank
Nicole, don’t you mean this Rambo type person
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325127/Vladimir-Putin-horse-whisperer-shows-caring-Siberia.html
the ones who set the building on fire wasn’t militants but just normal people who had enough Russia paid terrorists taking over their cities. all the deaths is as sad as any other, but the good thing is Russia will realise Ukrainians are not giving their country away without a fight. it’s shame that the rest of the world has failed to react to Russia’s aggression.
So normal people burn others alive?
normals wasn’t the right word to use, agree. all i wanted to say they weren’t militants
Send in Gerry Adams. He’ll negotiate peace. Him and Olexander Turchinov are in a similar sicheeashun at the moment. They’ll understand each other perfectly.
The building reportedly was set in fire by pro-russians from inside, not from outside. They were throwing molotov coctails and accidentally burn the house. Pro-ukrainians tried to help people to escape, over 70 were rescued and put to hospitals. 50 people are still in the building and refuses to go out, police is talking to them. Among dead no Ukrainians, only Russians and transdniesters (but this is not confirmed really) A lot of weapon found in the building. So, read the news carefully, especially on RS websites.
How funny! Its “sad” is it? You don’t sound like its sad you sound actually proud and glad. Burning people you don’t like and then complaining the rest of the world has failed to stand up to Putin. When the Russian tanks roll all over Ukraine you’ll have no one to blame but yourselves.
Lie
It was no weapon found, most of people who died are from Odessa and as everybody can see from video fire been started from outside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6vjM9gBS-0
@Anna Taranova
Link please?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9AMjLBIliw&feature=youtu.be – the description to video says “on the 2 minute you can see that someone burns the room in Profsoyuz building from inside”
And here is some english translation as well: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishMaidan/posts/318308281650923?stream_ref=10
Not so many translations available at the moment – it is deep night in Ukraine now. In my message above I translated local news and Facebook posts from Odessa people.
How you cant tell where is person from?
http://kor.ill.in.ua/m/610×0/1408594.jpg
http://kor.ill.in.ua/m/610×0/1408595.jpg
EnglishMaidan is most famous source of propaganda lies and cannot be considered as reliable source
Again – from video you can see molotov coctails are flying into building and you still claim that building was burned from inside?
Do you want to see another Prague Spring @Austin? Will russian tanks rolling in excite you? What is sad is everyone’s admiration for a failed gangster state like Russia. Putin is solely to blame for this. He needs to be stopped
@Anna ignore people like Austin, just another anti-West Putin fanboy -who gives Putin a free pass because of his hatred of the West and Europe and all the freedoms he can enjoy.
Anna come in now, even the BBC are showing images of the pro Maidan supporters throwing Molotov cocktails at the building.
Sorry but reading “EnglishMaidan” for unbiased news about Ukraine is like reading An Phoblacht for unbiased news about Gerry Adams. You got to do better.
Russia is moving now to open up the south giving it access to.moldova along the black sea coast. All of this is getting more hurried as they run out of time to stop anyone from being able to vote in the national presidential elections on the 25th. Hence the reason they are taking over any buildings that would be used for voting. The next move is for a spoof vote on independance from those very same buildings. Ukraine is falling further and further in to russian hands.
So feckin’ what? This has been the biggest American feck-up since that Alzheimers president got elected in 1980.
Funniest part yet, I was reading today that the rocket engines of some of America’s missiles are manufactured in the ex USSR. Oh, and how are they going to get to the ISS without Soviet help? Didn’t think of that one before the sanctions, now did you?
One simple answer Donny, the CRS or Commercial Resupply Service. NASA is already using craft that they have developed plus craft from SpaceX to operate supply runs to the ISS. All of this is independent of Russia.
I thinnk Russia needs NASA funding more than NASA or ESA needs Russia -Russia couldn’t even rescue a submarine…Donny Duck has a real hard spot for Russia
Oh God! You guys are dumber than a Ukrainian president. NASA just stopped cooperating with the Russians and now they can’t use the Soyuz to get to the ISS. How’s that for brains?
The comedy show never ends.
Seems militant US backed fascists from Kiev involved. They are determined to start a civil war. If they push Russia too far they will react. Absolute madness
oh shut up will you
Nicole can’t shut up.
What do you mean “If they push the Russians too far”? Its their country you clown.
Nicole does not understand that Russia is knocking on Ukraine’s door.
Donny duck is some clown
Ain’t I hilarious?
We’ll go on over and help you waffler
And 6000 died in Africa today due to starving
Over 225,000 people die everyday on average.
So where’s the coverage of the wonderful May Day parade in Moscow this year?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/moscow-may-day-parade-red-square
The West also had their Military May day display to match it……
So What?
Russia has 6 times the military Ukraine has (and that’s before half them defected to Russia), a long land border with Ukraine, no need for other countries for bases and most of all a sympathetic population in Eastern Ukraine.
America and NATO can sit back and watch from Poland. Enjoy the show guys.
The Russian military is a shambles -remember the kursk? Britain alone could defeat the Russians in a conventional war..Russian power my ass – this isn’t a sign of Russian power but weakness – they need to be reminded they lost the Cold War
Russia still has nukes and there is no shelf life on them.
Not to mention the time a Russian MIG 25 Foxbatv defected into the west, was stripped to pieces. Yanks were amusing themselves of the ancient vaccume tube valvev technology used in the aircraft….Russians had the last laugh in that their technology was far more EMP resistant than the SR71.
Frank, yes the Russians do have nukes but I’m sure you want the US to get rid of its nukes.
The Kursk was 1995 when Boozy Boris was in charge. A lot has improved since then.
Kursk was 2000. Under Putin, who couldn’t be bothered turning up to the site for a week(he was on holiday). He also refused help from Britain and Norway in the rescue mission.
oh by the way that Missing Russian diplomat that Putin expressed concern about (another casus belli – a missing diplomat) turned up safe and well and hiding in the house of one of Putin’s strong men….funny that! but Putin would never lie -no all you idiots believe he is a freedom loving messiah against big bad old Obama! see you next tuesdays
A terrible massacre and God help the 53 people who died today in Odessa as well as the military officials. The only thing that is clear about the Odessa situation is that it wasn’t done by state forces -who have acted with rstarint. Why would the Kiev government give Putin a casus Belli? This will trigger an invasion nad he will try and take Kiev before May 25th. Is it not suspicious that for weeks Putin had been threatening invasion if Russians were harmed, the government didn’t take the bait and suddenly in a city that up to now had known no trouble (I’ve friends in Odessa) from right sector or otherwise explodes in one day? -whether it was done by FSB or GRU elements or rogue right sector supporters or protesters who lost control is unclear.
still could be right wing mob might be russian provocatives. dont know yet but either or cant be ruled out yet
most likely a horrible right wing mob bent on revenge but judging by the fact the ‘missing Russian diplomat’ turned up alive and well (and an analysis by a Swedish intelligence analysts predicted the death of innocent Russian citizens killed by FSB to in Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine over the next number of months) -nothing can be discounted.
I’m going to search YouTube so I can find out best how to fold my tinfoil hat.
Keep it up watching CNN or BBC media and you wont need to.
Russia must move in to protect its people.Standing idly by will have terrible consequences a la the Free State in the 70′s
“Russia must move in to protect its people.Standing idly by will have terrible consequences a la the Free State in the 70′s”
What people? There’s a very big difference between Russian citizens and people of Russian ethnicity. Russia has legal rights to interfere on behalf of the former and not the latter.
not to mention the offensive ‘free state’ comment from a Shinner -hows gerry doing Riobard? has he his teddy bear?
The West is preparing for an advance towards Russia on the Eastern front and Putin is wise to this. He knows damn well what is going on and is fortunate to salvage Crimea.
why would they do that? Maybe countries like Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia wanted to join NATO – i don’t know – because of History and the rape of their countries by the USSR. So Frank was the USSR a good thing?
Frank – take a look at what’s happening in Krygryzstan, Then tell me that Russia is on the defensive.
Jason, Russia is by-passing that by offering Russian passports to anyone who wants one.
I am, I’m in Nigeria at the minute building a church
I’m still waiting for that discreet sum of $80,000,000,000 you’re supposed to send me. Did it get lost in the post?
I’m sick of listening and reading these stories everything. Why don’t Kiev do a flavour by deporting all Russian people to Russia, just like Stalin deported Jews and Muslims from Russia years ago.
Because that would be fascist ..
have your say