23 Feb 2014
It is finally calm in Ukraine’s capital Kiev after three months of active protests, but the Crimean peninsula is heating up. Protesters gathered in Sevastopol in Crimea to demonstrate against the actions of parliament in Kiev and declare their plans of secession.
Demonstrators waved Russian flags – there was not a Ukrainian flag to be seen – and chanted “Russia, Russia, Russia” during the gathering.”Sevastopol is a Russian town and will always be a Russian town… we will never surrender to those fascists in Kiev,” said Anatoly, who was handing out Russian flags and declined to give his surname. “The struggle is only just beginning.”
On Saturday, parliament passed a resolution that kicked out Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovich and set elections for May 25. Even though he is an ally of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, people in Crimea view him as a traitor.
“I don’t support Yanukovych because he has betrayed Ukraine,” said Dmitry Kovalenko, 23, a student. “We need to unite with Russia.”
East Ukraine is closer with Russia, but very strong in Crimea. The peninsula is very popular with wealthy Russians and is home to many Russian naval bases.