Mykola Kokhanivsky, 

Maidan self-defence

I support the operation, but it should have ended already. The buildings should have been vacated. Because of the delay, we have lost Crimea and are slowly losing Donbas.

Olga Ryzhoi

I am worried that there will be a civil war. I think that the situation must be decided peacefully. I think that there should be a peaceful discussion between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. The problem is that there isn’t access to information [in the east]. I have friends in Sloviansk, and they are convinced that Russia is a better place to live. 

Ivan Levchenko, 

driver

The government’s response [to separatism] in eastern Ukraine hasn’t been sufficient. We need to continue the [anti-terrorist] operation and get tougher with these bandits. We should send the police and the army to eastern Ukraine. When people were on the Maidan, they fought for justice, against the mafia. There [in Donetsk Oblast], they are fighting to betray the motherland.

Mikhail Tsygan, 

pensioner

Well, the response should be much stronger. They need to do more and talk less. There should be a carefully planned and executed operation. 

Natalya, 

musician

I don’t support it at all. I support order and stability. The operation has not been professional at all: it hasn’t brought order or stability. If there’s going to be an official action, there should be a result. Our problem is that there is a low level of professionalism in every sphere [of government] of every oblast. Politics should decide all of these questions.