Nazis’ attempt to trample down Kharkov completely failed

Monument demolition to Lenin in Kharkov is one of links in actions chain by means of which the Nazi junta tries to subordinate completely this city and finally to destroy resistance to the spread fascist ideology in it. The head of public organization «Great Russia» (Kharkov) Yury Mikhaylovich Apukhtin answers the questions of «The world and we».
— Who has organized the monument demolition to Lenin on September 28 and why? What forces and personnel participated in it?
Everything began not from monument destruction to Lenin, but much earlier. In ten days before we carried out picket on which made social demands, as the minimum consumer basket in Ukraine now is such that in besieged Leningrad the food was better. It was carried out opposite to regional administration. And for the first time we felt that Nazis completely became impudent, and the militia isn’t going to protect us. After the beginning of picket we were faced by a police cordon in three ranks — about 100 people. We began picket, exposed flags and posters.
After a while the Nazis — the Kharkov Gopniks and football «ultras» started gathering. Then they rushed on us and somehow very easily broke off a cordon of militia, started breaking flags, to throw eggs and smoke grenades. The militia stepped aside. Then they detained one person from attacking and even started beating him. Right there the major of the Ministry of Internal Affairs ran up to them and demanded to release him. After the end of action our activists saw as militiaman, who beat the Nazi, was brought to the prisoner transport vehicle by people in civil and beaten there.
It should be noted that they didn’t manage to break picket completely. The staff of the Kharkov militia was extremely disturbed with everything occurring and those orders which were sent them during this picket. At the same time there is purposeful policy on mixing up the staff by people who work for Nazis. And the militia management does it openly in general.
Thus, we saw how the militia stepped aside and allowed Nazis to reach us that wasn’t earlier in Kharkov. This is the first what made us thinking that there is a preparation for more large-scale provocations in the city.
— And then there was «Peace March» dispersal?
Yes, then there was this event. Practically all patriotic organizations of Kharkov declared the carrying out of «Peace March» against war on Donbass on Saturday, September 27. March had to begin in the downtown, near «Mirror stream». It was planned that about 1 thousand people will gather that is very large number for Kharkov in present time. People arrived from the suburb and other regions of the Kharkov area — the organization was very good.
But the city authorities «organized» a judgment at night before action which forbade its carrying out.
In the morning on a beginning place of «Peace March» everything was already surrounded by militia — about 300 militiamen stood in a cordon. I and Alla Aleksandrovskaya, the first secretary of the Kharkov regional committee of KPU, tried to build a column from people who arrived for carrying out «March». But the militia began quickly and rigidly to surround us. After our performances everything ended —several of our activists were taken away in prisoner transport vehicle and brought to police station. It became one more confirmation that the management of the Kharkov militia openly works with Nazis.
All this time, the armoured troop-carrier and armoured car drove along Sumskaya St. The people in black masks sat there, with machine guns and showed all readiness to use the weapon. Then the water-jet car came that was not also observed in Kharkov earlier. It conceived the corresponding boomerang effect — people started chanting «fascists!», the situation became more intense.
And here nobody forbade the procession which was organized next day by Maidan protesters and football «ultras». And it was carried out right after the football match, which, certainly, thoroughly «warmed up» radicals. They carried out the procession along Sumskaya St. and went for meeting on Freedom Square. Thus, all this was planned in advance. At this time in Kharkov there was an Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Avakov Anton Gerashchenko who personally directed all actions including militias.
About 700 radicals gathered at a monument. And at this moment there was no militiaman on the square — there was an order to leave. After a while the Kharkov governor Igor Baluta appeared and told that decreed about monument demolition though he had no right to give such order. Also there were Gerashchenko and the chief of the Kharkov regional management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs general Denisenko. Baluta’s statement became a trigger to the subsequent vandalism and lawlessness — all rushed to take down a monument. But not the Kharkov citizens demolish it —Mikhalchishin from All-Ukrainian Union «Svoboda» and other «figures» from Kiev arrived there.
The angle grinders, cables and other special equipment appeared at once that says about well planned character of an action. As a result about midnight the monument was sawed and dumped by cables. The militia brought criminal case on this fact as the monument was in the register of the objects protected by the state. But in some hours Avakov declared that in connection with Baluta’s order the demolition was lawful and ordered to close criminal case.
— What role in the events was played by fighters of the punitive battalions «Aydar» and «Azov» which, as we know, were present at Kharkov at this time?
There were only Nazis and gapers on the square. But near Regional administration on Ivanov St. there were about 70 people in camouflage, without weapon, but their buses were near. As then it became clear, it really were the chasteners from «Aydar» battalion. On Monday the column with them left Kharkov towards Chuguev. There are no confirmed data on same mass «representation» of «Azov» battalion though his some «fighters» were present, for example, the commander of this battalion Andrey Beletsky.
Skilled chasteners were necessary if Kharkov citizens would rush to protect a monument — then they simply would suit the meat grinder. And, apparently, it was planned to carry out such provocation. But we warned all not to give in on it. Next day many Kharkov citizens came, brought flowers. In the afternoon nobody touched them and here in the evening Nazis again came and made some fights.
—Are the punitive battalions in the city now and what is the situation in general?
There are no battalions in Kharkov in an explicit form. The car of «Donbass» battalion which tries to take people in the company is periodically observed in Kharkov. Many people are dispersed, live in apartments. But it is not the chasteners from battalions, but «street fighters», who are perfectly directed.
From the point of view of reaction on that occurred, so the people became extremely angry. The vast majority of Kharkov citizens is revolted with this act of terrible vandalism. And it isn’t the issue about Lenin and ideology —one of the most known symbols of the city was demolished.
In general the intense situation is seen in Kharkov. The authorities try to show that they are the masters of the situation. But understand that they don’t control the city and all attempts to arrange bloody provocation to frighten Kharkov citizens completely failed.
— What are your forecasts about further development of a situation in Kharkov?
Kharkov is the key city in the development of further situation. The subsequent escalation of pressure is planned here because of it. Junta is necessary a reason for strengthening of repressions against the population and resistance forces. Indicative monument demolition to Lenin on Freedom Square on September 28 was the attempt of creation of such occasion. But Kharkov citizens didn’t give in on this provocation.
Further it is necessary to expect provocations of the same sort. Further monuments demolition to Lenin in other districts of Kharkov is the confirmation to it. Besides, the movement of armoured troop-carriers and armoured cars on suburbs and even in the downtown is observed. Certainly, such actions conduct to the further growth of tension.
Without having reached the goal, Nazis again will also provoke Kharkov citizens to a response of a mass protest again that to realize the «Odessa» scenario then. But these plans of junta are obvious both to public organizations and to the population therefore their realization is almost impossible.