Lidia Tymkiv, 49

business woman, Lviv

“The degree of
protest is already high, but unfortunately its process is being delayed.
So some people would probably leave Maidan over the holidays, but the
most committed activists will stay here. I personally think that our
dignity has been so much trampled by the authorities that I’m going to
stay here by the end.”

Oleksandr Zhuravel, 40

welder, Kirovohrad    

“Yesterday’s events will make no difference. Maidan will stay the way it was staying. I think our leaders are doing everything right, little by little.”

Olga Ziniak, 62

pensioner, village of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

“People are very nervous. The authorities are ordering the beating of peaceful people, the activists like (former Interior Minister Yuriy) Lutsenko, (Andriy) Illienko or Tetyana Chornovol. I think people should unite and renew the strikes. We are peaceful nation, we don’t need blood, but we need to do something.”

Inga Golos, 16

student, Khotyn city of Chernivtsi Oblast

“I think yesterday’s beating will not have much influence as not many people have heard about it. While in the beginning it was a revolution, now many people are coming just to eat and sleep here. And this is very sad. We need the more active actions.”

Dmytro Chesnokov, 42

assistant of opposition lawmaker, Kyiv

“In fact any provocation by the authorities is bringing more people to Maidan. Now it is clear that Yanukovych will not hand over powers, and it seems that the leaders of opposition don’t know what exactly to do. I think the tactics should be changed. But when you say this to the leaders they call you either a provocateur or a pessimist.”

Yuriy Radygin, 64

pensioner, Odesa

“Not the officials but people are the real source of power, and these people are here. This is an atrocity what Berkut is doing to the people. This is a crime. The authorities should be displaced by force, by their own guns. I think nothing else will work.”

Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Grytsenko can be reached at [email protected]