ODESSA, Ukraine: Ukrainian police in the tense southern city of Odessa on Monday discovered grenades near the site of commemorations marking two years since clashes between Moscow and Kiev supporters killed 48.
Street battles between armed backers of the pro-Western government in Kiev and the Kremlin in the historic Black Sea port killed six people and culminated in a building inferno in which 42 pro-Russians died.
The violence erupted at the height of Ukraine’s pro-Russian eastern insurgency and sparked fears in Kiev that Moscow was preparing an all-out invasion of the former Soviet state.
That assault never came but the bloodshed ratcheted up the tensions and Russia later accused Ukraine of covering up an investigation into who was ultimately responsible for the deaths.
The two-year separatist revolt Russia denies supporting has now killed more than 9,300 people.
Around 1,000 people carrying flowers and banners with pictures of the victims massed on Monday outside metal detectors set up around the square at which the worst carnage occurred.
“We will never forgive or forget,” a group of several dozen pro-Russians chanted.
Street battles between armed backers of the pro-Western government in Kiev and the Kremlin in the historic Black Sea port killed six people and culminated in a building inferno in which 42 pro-Russians died.
The violence erupted at the height of Ukraine’s pro-Russian eastern insurgency and sparked fears in Kiev that Moscow was preparing an all-out invasion of the former Soviet state.
That assault never came but the bloodshed ratcheted up the tensions and Russia later accused Ukraine of covering up an investigation into who was ultimately responsible for the deaths.
The two-year separatist revolt Russia denies supporting has now killed more than 9,300 people.
Around 1,000 people carrying flowers and banners with pictures of the victims massed on Monday outside metal detectors set up around the square at which the worst carnage occurred.
“We will never forgive or forget,” a group of several dozen pro-Russians chanted.
