KIEV — Ukrainian authorities have carried out an inspection tour of Kiev's bomb shelters as lawmakers accused Russia of fomenting trouble in the Ukrainian capital after having annexed the Black Sea region of Crimea.
The new leadership seemed on edge after a far-right radical group that played a central role in the revolt that overthrew president Viktor Yanukovych rallied angrily outside parliament, demanding the dismissal of Arsen Avakov, the interior minister.
"They [the Russians] did not manage to ignite the flame of separatism in our regions," said acting president Oleksandr Turchynov. "So now there are attempts to destabilize the situation in the heart of Ukraine, in Kiev."
Tens of thousands of Russian troops thought to be massed on the border have shown no immediate sign of entering other parts of Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no designs on other parts of its smaller neighbor. But Russia is expected to use every weapon in its economic arsenal to punish Ukraine for its U-turn towards Europe.
In an unusual step that added to a climate of apprehension, Kiev authorities announced on Friday that they had carried out checks on more than 500 urban bomb shelters in the capital to ensure they were in good working order, and were working on a new early warning system for the population of the former Soviet republic.
"We have 526 defense installations [shelters] in Kiev … Today the city authorities are working to ensure that they are in appropriate technical condition to be able to guarantee the protection of people," Volodymyr Bondarenko, head of the capital's administration, said in a statement.
Ukraine's new leaders, who took power after the pro-Russian Yanukovych fled on Feb. 20 following three months of sometimes violent unrest, appeared unnerved after Right Sector, an ultra-radical group, staged a protest outside parliament on Thursday night and threatened similar action on Friday.
The group came to prominence during the three-month "Euromaidan" revolt against Yanukovych by breaking away from the largely peaceful demonstration to use violent tactics against riot police, throwing petrol bombs and bricks.
Although unable at the time to condone the violent tactics used by the group, the then-opposition leaders who are now in power could not begrudge the part Right Sector played in eventually toppling Yanukovych.
Activist's Killing Angers Far Right
However, Turchynov suggested on Friday that the group might be manipulated by Moscow into undermining the new leadership and destabilizing the country as it reels from Russia's seizure of Crimea and seeks to recover from economic mismanagement.
The stated reason for the Right Sector protest was the killing earlier this week of Oleksandr Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bily, one of the group's most prominent activists.
The interior ministry said Muzychko was shot dead by officers of the "Sokol" special unit as he tried to escape from a cafe in the western region of Rivne. The ministry modified its statement on Friday, saying ballistics tests showed that Muzychko had shot himself as police closed in.
Right Sector says Muzychko was the victim of a political "hit" by special forces and is demanding the resignation of Avakov and the prosecution of those responsible for the killing.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
