Theodor Dyachun walks slowly on Mykhailivska Square, looking over thousands of Ukrainians who gathered on Oct. 14 in honor of Defenders Day, a newly recognized holiday honoring those who have been fighting for the country's independence.
Dyachun, an 88-year-old Ukrainian Insurgent Army veteran from Ternopil Oblast, says it important for him to be on a square today.
He joined the event basically to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the UPA, which fought against Nazi and Soviet troops in 1942 to 1954. Dyachun was arrested back in 1950; he was forcibly deported to Kazakhstan where he spent more than 10 years before returning to Ukraine.
A national anthem tune on his old cell phone interrupts his thoughts.
“Nation was born finally and people began to understand that,” Dyachun says after the pause. “Once (Mykola) Khvylovy, (Ukrainian writer) said that we need to go away from Moscow. Our people (in power) still don’t get it.”
Even though the new holiday aims to commemorate all fighters for Ukrainian nation, for Dyachun it’s still a day when he recalls his fellow soldiers with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known as UPA.
Several Ukrainian right-wing groups, including Svoboda nationalist party and Pravy Sektor, made it to streets, waving Ukrainian and party flags. There were also protesters who carried flags of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.
Meanwhile, Oleh Tyahnybok, Svoboda party leader, said from a stage that this holiday is a great chance to remember not only fallen Ukraine’s heroes, but all those activists who are kept behind bars.
Tyahnybok called on rally supporters to join the march to Lukyanivske detention facility, where two suspects of involvement in the murder of journalist Oles Buzyna are being held. They both are Svoboda activists.
“They (in power) are afraid of the (real) patriots, this regime is the same as (former president Viktor) Yanukovych one,” Tyahnybok said.
The event was used as a platform for agitation as well. Svoboda leader says that nationalists groups will unite in their fight for nation without “corrupt elements” and will also go together for the future parliamentary elections.
However, not all the attendees share Tyahnybok’s ideas.
Andry Kuktenko, 19, believes the holiday shouldn’t have nationalist pretext.
“To be honest I do not agree with (the idea of) this demonstration,” Kuktenko told the Kyiv Post. “It is nationalist only and I don’t agree that Ukraine is only for Ukrainians. Ukraine must be democratic, not nationalistic.”
Since the EuroMaidan Revolution that overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych last year, Svoboda party has found itself increasingly marginalized, after deadly anti-autonomy clashes between nationalists and riot police erupted outside parliament on Aug. 31.
Tyahnybok still blames the police for “negligence” during the rally that killed three National Guard servicemen and left more than 100 people injured.
When asked about security at the rally, Tyahnybok said they have talked with the activists in advance and will hold a “peaceful march as they always did.”
Some 5,000 police officers were brought to streets to patrol the city.
However, the Interior Ministry reported that some 10 people were detained during the rally carrying knifes, tear gas spray and brass knuckles.
“Police even took away some wooden flag poles from the activists,” Valeriya Burlakova, a member of Azov Regiment, told the Kyiv Post.
Burlakova, who spent her last year fighting in Donbas against combined Russia-separatists forces, says she tries not to miss any nationalist rally.
“It’s also a good way to show the guys (suspected Svoboda members in Buzyna’s murder) who are kept in detention facility that we remember them,” Burlakova told the Kyiv Post.
Many of the activists also called for the release of several men who were arrested for involvement in clashes with police outside the Ukrainian parliament in August.
“Idiot power prosecute patriots,” the marchers chant while walking to the building of Lukyanivske jail.
Police report that the rally was peaceful with a single smoke bomb thrown during the demonstration.
Originally, the new holiday replaces the former February 23, Defender of the Fatherland Day, which was of Soviet origin.
Victoria Dnipruk, a middle-aged woman, who took part in the rally, says now it turns into a real “celebration of the Ukrainian army.”
Dnipruk, dressed in red skirt and white fur jacket in colors of Ukraine’s traditional costume, joined the rally together with her little son. “‘My son goes with me to every celebration. Before it was only a celebration of the Soviet history. Now we are independent, this day is very important for us.’
