Ukrainian unrest heightens Russian tensions

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After three months of political turmoil, civic unrest in Ukraine reached its boiling point. Kiev’s Independence Square, the main protest rally point, turned into a warzone as the main square was engulfed in flame last week.

Fueled by the anger of the Ukrainian people, armed clashes between police and protesters left dozens dead in the country’s capital, sparking a chain of events that led to major changes in the country – including the ousting of the controversial Ukrainian president.

Kiev has been the arena for a series of peaceful protests since early November, after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych turned away from a highly anticipated deal with the European Union to receive loans in order to keep Ukraine’s economy afloat in favor of a $15 billion bailout from Russia.

Protests suddenly turned violent due to growing impatience with the lack of progress, leading protestors to storm the capitol Tuesday, Feb. 18, starting fires with firebombs and fueling the flames with tires to create a wall of heat that halted advancing police. According to multiple sources, at least 70 people died and hundreds were injured as a result of the violent protests.

President Yanukovych met with opposition leaders late Feb. 19, calling for a truce and negotiations. Peace didn’t last very long, however.

According to Huffington Post’s article “Ukraine Protests: Truce Fails to End Battles Between Police, Demonstrators,” protest camp commander Oleh Mykhnyuh told the Associated Press that even after the truce call, protestors continued to throw firebombs at riot police. When the police pulled back, rioters followed them and police began shooting at them, putting an end to the short-lived peace.

Associated Press journalists report that an influential member of the ruling party, Shehiy Tyhipko, said both Yanukovych and opposition leaders had “completely lost control of the situation.”

In an effort to appease the people, Yanukovych signed an agreement to hold early elections for the Ukrainian presidency and also freed opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from jail. These changes, however, weren’t enough to appease Ukrainian protesters and keep Yanukovych in power.

Yanukovych fled Ukraine Saturday, leaving behind his political power and his opulent mansion – the mansion in question staffed a personal restaurant in the form of a ship, as well as a private zoo and golf course.

The Huffington Post’s article “Ukraine Parliament Boss Takes Presidential Powers,” reported, “a top Ukrainian opposition figure assumed presidential powers Sunday, Feb. 23, plunging Ukraine into new uncertainty after a deadly political standoff – and boosting long-jailed Yulia Tymoshenko’s chances at a return to power.”

The article also describes this development in Ukraine as “new uncertainty.”

Ukraine has had a decades-long struggle over creating a national identity since separating from the Soviet Union in 1991. Western Ukraine wishes to remain independent and free of Russian influence, focusing on retaining Ukrainian independence and culture, while eastern Ukraine favors Russian influence and strives to maintain strong cultural ties.

Rebecca Briley, an associate professor of language and literature at Oklahoma Christian University who has taught a number of Ukrainian students in Lithuania, said she feels empathetic for the people of Ukraine, applauding them for standing up against their president.

“I was alarmed to hear that it had gotten to this point and I’m sorry that it came to this, but the people have got to stand up and protest,” Briley said. “I feel that if the people allow their president to break his promises and go back on his agreements and, in a lot of ways, be manipulated by Putin and just take that sitting down and don’t have anything to say about it, then I think there’s no hope for Ukraine in the future.”

Regarding the divided loyalties with Russia, Briley said eastern Ukraine should support the western part of the country.

“For those who support Russia, they have a short memory and they need to remember what being an ally of Russia really means for them,” Briley said. “I’m really disappointed with the Ukrainian president for caving in to Russia. You don’t make a deal with the devil, and that’s what Putin is. He can put on a peace face but his motives have obviously not changed – this is about power.”

Junior Evynn Alexander, who has taken mission trips to Ukraine, agreed with Briley and said siding with Russia may not be the best option.

“Going with Russia, knowing Russia, [Ukraine] will keep going back to them and might end up being dependent on Russia again,” Alexander said. “They were dependent on Russia when they were a part of the Soviet Union and some of them haven’t gotten out of that mindset.”

According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama condemned the violence, warning “there will be consequences” for those responsible if it continues.

Before President Obama got involved, it was Vice President Joe Biden talking to Yanukovych, trying to urge the Ukrainian president to give in to the demands of the people – something Briley feels President Obama should have been handling from the start.

“Biden was the one negotiating on our behalf, and I think that sends a message that we’re not all that concerned,” Briley said. “And when the escalation came and people started to die, then our president got involved and would not have, I think, if that had not happened. I think it’s terrible that it takes something like that to awaken the rest of the world – but apparently it does.”

Alexander, however, applauds Biden’s interest in trying to convince Yanukovych to give the people what they want.

“The people want the country to flourish, they want to be their own people because they are, from what I have seen, a very independent people and they are an independent country,” Alexander said. “So having the people depend on Russia like they always had when they are trying to do something different is sad.”

Senior Erin Brockway shared Alexander’s position.

“If they just go back and have Russia bail them out, I feel like that would really kind of just delete all of the progress they just went through,” Brockway said. “It’ll also be a big shot to their pride because they are so proud of being independent and being able to do things on their own.”

Brockway expressed concerns on how the betrayal from their president may affect the Ukrainian people.

“It takes a lot to earn someone’s trust,” Brockway said. “They’re already so cautious and serious and they don’t trust anyone. I’m thinking this is just going to make this 100 times worse.”

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated ground and air exercises along the Russia-Ukraine border to demonstrate his country’s military readiness. The New York Times reported that tens of thousands of troops were put on alert in western Russia until the exercises conclude on March 3.

Although Russia’s military actions are seen mainly as saber rattling at this point, western European countries and the United States noted their maneuvers. Secretary of State John Kerry said to the New York Times that any Russian military actions in Ukraine would cost Russia respect and any legitimacy they are currently trying to cultivate.

“I don’t think there should be any doubt whatsoever that any kind of military intervention that would violate the sovereign territorial integrity of Ukraine would be a huge, grave mistake,” Kerry said.