The neo-fascists in action

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/02/ukraine-dead-odessa-building-fire
<snip>
More than 30 people were reported to have been killed in violent and chaotic clashes in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa on Friday as pro-Ukrainian activists stormed a building defended by protesters opposed to the current government in Kiev and in favour of closer ties with Russia.

Odessa's large Soviet-era trade union building was set alight as pro-Ukrainian activists mounted an assault as dusk fell. Police said at least 31 people choked to death on smoke or were killed when jumping out of windows after the trade union building was set on fire.

"At first we broke through the side, and then we came through the main entrance," said one pro-Ukrainian fighter, 20, who said he was a member of the extreme nationalist group Right Sector.

"They had guns and they were shooting … Some people jumped from the roof, they died obviously," he said.

Riot police arrived on the scene as hand-to-hand fighting was already underway inside, but did not enter the building and stood formed up in ranks outside.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. If the "pro-Ukrainian activists" are neo-fascists

what do we call the "pro-Russian activists" who are seizing buildings in eastern Ukraine?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. It was actually a much larger story than just that.

What we saw in Odessa (and I literally saw part of it live on the web) was mob-on-mob violence. No doubt, no one--and I mean no one--should have died. However, an incident like this was sadly almost inevitable, and I fear the greater implications to be, knowing all the signs Moscow is showing.

Essentially, it started as a peaceful march by Pro-Ukrainian protesters. However, those protesters were attacked by stick and stone welding counter Pro-Russian marchers. So in turn, the Pro-Ukrainian marchers started to throw rocks and use sticks on the Pro-Russian side. And then people identified as Pro-Russian side started shooting at the Pro-Ukrainian side. (I actually saw it live as it happened, and there are screen caps and I suspect video of this as well). Finally, the police moved in, the Pro-Russian side dispersed and moved back into the trade union building where they had headquartered. The Pro-Ukrainian side advanced and apparently set fire to the building and that's where this all happened.

It was your classic mob escalation scenario. And again, no one should have died--neither Russian nor Ukrainian. But it didn't start at the trade union building. It started much earlier.

And you can now be absolutely sure we will be seeing little green men armed with AK-47s popping up in Odessa, and trying to take over government buildings. And when you combine it with the military action against the militants in the east, I now fear Russia moving in its regulars. Presumably to protect ethnic Russians, but really to claim Novorossiya for itself.