Posted on 01/03/2005 10:43:41 AM PST by jb6
KIEV, Ukraine - Among the orange ribbons, rabbit ears and dyed hair of the Ukrainian students who have become the happy face of the Orange Revolution, a darker color has become more prominent: the green camouflage uniforms of a far-right nationalist group.
"We are soldiers on an assignment," said one of them, Roman Dubynevych. "We are here to guard the revolution and to prevent Russia's interference."
He commands a unit of the Ukrainian National Assembly-Self Defense Organization, which says it has provided much of the muscle behind the weeks of protests in support of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko - who preliminary results show won last Sunday's rerun of the presidential runoff.
Although the protests have not been violent and Yushchenko promises to bring Western-style reforms to Ukraine, the presence of the group, known by its Ukrainian acronym UNA-UNSO, underlines concerns of Yushchenko's foes that his leadership will enflame nationalism and intense anti-Russian sentiment.
As the number of orange-wearing protesters declined in recent weeks, UNA-UNSO's dark green uniforms and Iron Cross-like insignia got increasing notice.
But group member Andriy Bondarenko said they were a key element right from the start, when the huge rallies - dominated by young people dancing and celebrating in the streets - were launched to protest a fraudulent Nov. 21 run-off vote in which Yushchenko's opponent, Viktor Yanukovych, was declared the winner.
Members of the UNA-UNSO turned an abandoned sugar factory in Kiev into quarters from which they coordinated the weekslong blockade of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma's office and they provided men to serve in Yushchenko's personal security detail, Bondarenko said.
Yanukovych, has submitted his resignation as prime minister but hasn't conceded defeat in the Dec. 26 repeat of the runoff ordered by the Supreme Court. So UNA-UNSO members say they will stay in the sprawling tent camp that the opposition set up on Kiev's main street for as long as necessary, despite the cold weather and decline in food donations.
"First they were bringing us soup and hot meals, then canned food, now we are reduced to bread and bacon, but what more does a soldier need?" Dubynevych said.
As he spoke, other group members peeled onions and chopped sour cucumbers.
The fiercely anti-Russian Ukrainian National Assembly was created in 1990, and its paramilitary wing UNA-UNSO in 1991 after the abortive putsch in Moscow.
UNA-UNSO is reputed to have more than 1,000 members, and they brag about their exploits in the first Chechen war, where they say they fought alongside Chechen rebels, in the 1991-1995 Balkan wars and in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia, which has received strong support from Russia.
Dozens reportedly were killed fighting alongside Georgian troops, and then-Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze decorated the group's leader Ihor Mazur for bravery.
The group maintains training camps in western Ukraine's Carpathian mountains where its members practice guerrilla warfare skills such as hand-to-hand combat and survival. Its Web site includes such items as a statement of solidarity with Chile's ex-dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet and a report about a treaty of "friendship and cooperation" with representatives of German neo-Nazis.
However, Mazur rejects widespread claims that the organization is anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi.
Leonid Finberg, the head of the Kiev-based Jewish Yudaica Institute, agreed.
"Five or six years ago there were people with such sentiments, but that was not part of that organization's policy," he said.
Much of UNA-UNSO's bad reputation comes from another group with the same name that paraded through downtown Kiev with Nazi flags. In a move to distance himself, Yushchenko urged that group's leader, Eduard Kovalenko, to offer his support to Yanukovych instead.
Mazur insisted that his group has no relation with Kovalenko's faction. "We want a democratic Ukraine in a unified Europe," Mazur said. "We are here because we are Ukrainians, not because of our nationality or religion."
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Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau contributed to this report in Kiev.
Freed UNA-UNSO Member Andry Kosenko Has Plans to Fight for Liberation of His Comrades
Note Yulia Tomoshenko is now the VP of Ukraine.
UNA-UNSO appeal to Ukrainian troops in Iraq
Basing upon 400-years experience of national liberation movement of Ukrainian people we appeal to Ukrainian military contingent in Iraq to turn your bayonets against USA troops and join the rebels. Ukraine and progessive mankind will be proud of you!"
The truth starts to come out.
Ukraina ping Thank you
Time time Happy New Year what do you think Ukraina will be? Thank you
They're just glad they're not his food taster.
My husband write now!! Thank you
"Some things just don't get it straight. I have been reading some of your guys articles and it seems something is missing, something like essence of knowing which is which and who is who. I would like to make one thing really clear on this, as far as we poles are concerned, it is up to Ukraine people itself to decide where it goes and what Ukraine wants to accomplish. Yes I know, you will complain about Kwasniewski, that he is communist and he has intervene in internal Ukraine affairs, however open your minds little bit and look beyond closed door and see what is happening. On the other hand, this nonsense that Poland wants to be imperial is so lame that you guys are loosing a steam of knowing true facts of politics of reality. Through history you guys divide your self to East and West, as far as I am concern Ukraine is sovereign country in sense of words but maybe, some history will finally teach you a lesson who is who? You should remember 1930s of Stalin regime when millions of Ukraines died of starvations. You should also remember some very good details of Ukraine history as a country of it all. Of their brave people and that it is up to them to decide their own destination. In easy details let their people decide their own faith. Nevertheless I would like to remind each and one of you who is interfering in Ukraine itself, if you cannot see the enemy how you can see yourself in the mirror of knowledge. I sincerely wish that each and one of you put swords down and work this out for good of your own Ukraine country."
Thank you
Oh and by the way, the Soviets killed 20 million Russians too, but who's counting. And considering the amount of money the EU and such have flooded into Yushchenko's cause, telling others to butt out is rather hypocritical.
Thank you
Thank you
"You are mixing milk with acid. You really do not want dwell on this do you? Maybe you should search who killed those 20 million Russians? Even before Stalin 5 year plan. How much did EU put it in to Ukraine? How much did Moscow put it in? can you give me details? As I said before you are running out of steam and you should kind of chill before getting into history. Secondly, lets take this to another level shall we if you want to do you know why suddenly certain people are disappearing in Ukraine? "You may play stuff in room but not in open" as one US marine said in Iraq so give me best shot"
Democracy at work ~ Bump!
Why? Their grandads were in the SS.
If we start speaking of Ukrainian oppression, well, we should begin with the Polish/Lithuanian invasions of western Kieven Russ during the Mongol invasions. Kiev, the metropolitan see was snatched up by Lithuania. Ever heard of Alexander Nevsky? He had a nasty habit of defeating the Lithuanians and Teutonics.
Then there was the various Polish oppressions and massacres of Cossaks in central Ukraine, while Poland was busy invading Moscowy during the 1600s. Poland's fortunes turned in the 1700s and it was annexed by the nation it had been aggressing against for almost 500 years. That's how things go.
Turkey did a lot of slave raiding in what is now southern Ukraine, and along with their allies in the Crimean Khanite, butchered quite a few thousands. Then there was the Turkish-British-French invasion called the Crimean War that killed thousands more.
As for the Germans, they created Ukraine in 1917 and then stripped it off bread causing massive famine. Then there was the Germans of 1941 who butchered 20 million Soviet Citizens, about half from Ukraine.
So if one is to speak of the EU as composed of its member states, the EU has killed tens of millions of Ukrainians throughout history and forced converted millions more.
"Well, lets see if you speak of the modern EU, then no they didn't kill anyone since they officially didn't exist, though all EU ideas were present in the Third Reich."
"You are realistically a guy with all glue attach to it and you have no clue what I am talking about. You are like ballerina dancing in the middle of fire without acknowledging historical facts. I do mean it. Somehow somewhere you are missing my point and it seems you are stuck to that glue which won't prevent you to really know what I have written. But since you took a shot at me let me take a shot at you shall we. Lets talk about Ukraine oppression, who killed more Ukraines poles or Russians? Maybe 1772 shall bring you something to your mind, or maybe 1917 or maybe 1930's Stalin great man of honor as they proclaim to be or rather Lenin with his NKWD or better maybe some poles just decided to kill innocent in Katyn and stab my country in the back, or maybe Russia and Germany act as you may remember what Molotov said. Or rather after 1918-20 war with communist. Well let put a dice on ice Polish/Lithuanian invasions interesting point, I as far as I know there was two different rules here that need to be apply. First of all there where never same countries Latvia was in Union with Poland Jagiello dynasty which comes from Latvia, and yes, Latvia at that time was bigger then Polonius. You know, I can sit with you and debate all night long, and that is no problem for me, but at the end I can point facts to you that you just won't be able to defend, let it rest, you are missing my point. Somehow you trying to defend one way while knowing other way, but which is better isn't the third way."
Thank you
Ukraine Guards Glad to Work for Yushchenko
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Yushchenko vs. Yanukovych/Ukraine election ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Lets talk about Ukraine oppression, who killed more Ukraines poles or Russians? Maybe 1772 shall bring you something to your mind, or maybe 1917 or maybe 1930's Stalin great man of honor as they proclaim to be or rather Lenin with his NKWD or better maybe some poles just decided to kill innocent in Katyn and stab my country in the back, or maybe Russia and Germany act as you may remember what Molotov said
1917, Ukraine was created by the Germans, who also occupied Poland. 1918-1922 there was a civil war, in which Ukraine was ruled by "anarchists" actively involved in the fighting between the various factions. Again, I love how you guys simply love to ignore all the other peoples killed by the communists. Shall we ask from where the master of the Red Terror came from? Or Felix's nationality? Or shall we ask about the Old Believers burnt out of eastern Poland during the 1920s? Yes, I'll more then match you, fire away.
"Point away your points and not only will I counter I'll double you." Thank you my husband write now!!!
"I will never forgive you calling Sara EUroFacist so bring it on I would like this to be "live thread" to expose your hypocrisy and point historical facts that you are omitting one more thing, do me a favor answer my questions yes or no nonsense, since I have notice you have avoided most of them, so lets play Russian and Polish style shall we. Let facts be known, lets open all the history on a table and let people decide who is right who is wrong. In GROM we have saying don't shoot if you don't know how to handle a rifle its time you meet your match lets go!!!!! I take you for challenge!!!"
Thank you
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