Ukraine’s Displaced Demand Aid Ahead of Elections
Displaced people protested on Sunday, calling for Kyiv authorities to help them with basic needs, such as housing, food and clothing, after being forced to leave their homes in southeastern Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, over 320,000 have moved from the Donbas region to other parts of the country. In September, U.N. Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani stated that the number of internally displaced persons in Ukraine could reach 900,000.
At least 15 civilians have been killed during the last 24 hours in the region of Donestsk, eastern Ukraine, said self-proclaimed leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko of the regional government on Saturday.
According to the city council of Donetsk, two residential households were destroyed by the artillery fire and a pumping station was hit, wounding several employees.
Meanwhile, the country is getting ready to vote on Parliamentary elections, where the far-right Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko could become a surprise.
Polls show his new party holds between seven, 12 and even 20 percent of the votes.
Lyashko, a current parliamentary, became notorious after posting videos of himself killing rebel leaders, and conducting raids in the eastern regions of Ukraine with his own personal paramilitary group.
Human rights organizations have warned of the rise of Lyahsko. According to them, Lyahsko’s party rallying cry is “Glory to Ukraine, death to the occupiers.”
The rise of the right-wing neo-Nazi movements was warned by President Vladimir Putin last week when he visited Serbia.