KHARKOV, March 15, /ITAR-TASS/. Clashes have occurred in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov between city residents and militants reportedly from western Ukraine, a representative of the local movement against Maidan protests told an Itar-Tass correspondent.
“Clashes are underway on Rymarskaya Street [in downtown Kharkov]. Kharkov defenders are standing against militants, presumably from the Right Sector. The visitors are shooting from assault rifles,” the activist said.
Fire is delivered from the windows of a building hosting the headquarters of the Right Sector radical organization. Stun grenades and Molotov cocktails are being thrown from the second floor of the building. Three people from among anti-Maidan activists are reported to have been injured.
Police squads have arrived at the site of the clashes.
Maidan is the name for a downtown Kiev site, the Independence Square, which is the symbol of Ukrainian protests. The word “Maidan” is also used as a collective name for anti-government protests in Ukraine.
Right Sector activists were reportedly involved in clashes with police in Ukraine’s anti-government protests that started in November 2013 when the country’s authorities refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
The Ukrainian protests led to a coup in the country in February. President Viktor Yanukovich had to leave Ukraine citing security concerns. Yanukovich told reporters in south Russia on Tuesday that he remained the legitimate Ukrainian president despite “an anti-constitutional seizure of power by armed radicals.