Mariupol do not want to be Russian: The ostukrainische industrial city is beset by separatists, the people give now emphasizes patriotic. At night patrol right battalions.

If it is evening in Mariupol, then come Ukrainian patriots together. Such that there were always, and those who were only recently. Mayor Yuri Chotlubej enters after a concert in support of the Ukrainian army, the stage of the Municipal Theatre.

A few months ago he still has supported separatist movements, but now he calls “Slava Ukraine” (Glory of Ukraine). It is the patriotic slogan from Western Ukraine and the battle cry of the Maidan-revolution. “Gerojam Slava” (Glory to the heroes) answers the quantity, especially loud in the three front rows. There, sitting at the hundred soldiers in camouflage.

The industrial city of Mariupol on the coast of the Azov Sea seems these days as the most patriotic city in Ukraine: Large billboards are placarded with proukrainischen slogans on the lampposts hang blue-yellow flag, every other day, the authorities organize demonstrations.

Even President Petro Poroshenko was there a front visit to strengthen the Ukrainian spirit of resistance. Because right outside the city are the pro-Russian separatists since the beginning of September.

Mayor Chotlubej since 1998 in the office. He is still a member of the formerly loyal to Yanukovych “Party of Regions”. This raises doubts as to his patriotic sentiments. For in January, he had publicly railed against the demonstrators on the Maidan in Kiev and even sent municipal employees from Mariupol to a counter-rally in the capital. In May, as pro-Russian activists in Mariupol briefly took power, he called for dialogue with them – and for that they planned referendum.

Mariupol in eastern Ukraine:”Without Russia is nothing here”

Mariupol, with half a million inhabitants one of the most important industrial cities of Ukraine Just 50 kilometers from the Russian border. The steel works, obscure their chimneys before the city’s air, mainly export to Russia. Since the engineering giant is Asowmasch with its 18,000 workers.

The husband of the 57-year-old accountant Jelena works there: Before the war the factory had 500 tank cars manufactured in the month, most of which went to Russia. “Now they build per month seven or eight,” she says. One thing is for Jelena therefore fixed, no matter whether Mariupol soon to “Donetsk People’s Republic” heard or Ukrainian remains:. “Without Russia is nothing here”

There is little sympathy for the pro-Moscow rebels who fought zoom with Russia’s support in a few days up to the city limits. At that time, the booming of the mortars could be heard in the center. Nobody wants a repeat of the scenario of large cities or Luhansk Donetsk, around which fought for months.

But the sympathies of the Kiev central government have become even greater.

At fault are the “protectors of the city”, especially the right-wing volunteer battalion “Azov”. They are at their ugliest side. In an August night the central Lenin monument of the city was torn from the socket. Although the battalion denies it, in Mariupol nobody doubts that “Azov” -Kämpfer behind it. With white paint they sprayed their mark on the monument base: a swastika-like Wolf Angel, which was first used in the thirties by the Nazis.

Mariupol in eastern Ukraine:The “Azov” troupe confidently Ukrainian patriots too far

The occurrence of the battalion “Azov” has people in Mariupol applied earlier against Kiev: When the city on 9 May Victory in the Second World War commemorated, also the fighters showed in the center. It came to the debate, at the end of the day, several police officers and proukrainische fighters were dead. Deduction when the “Azov” units injuring several civilians. The reasons for the escalation are still unclear, but the incident damaged the already poor image of Kiev.

The occurrence of “Azov” confidently Ukrainian patriots too far in Mariupol. Two typical representatives of this new generation are the law student Andrei and Sasha. Both are 21 years old, speak their native language except Russian and Ukrainian fluently believe in the European future of Ukraine. “But why do you have to start with the fall of monuments, we do not understand,” says Andrey.