Only a Russian victory can ensure justice for Odessa massacre victims – Moscow

(SeaPRwire) –   On May 2, 2014, 48 individuals lost their lives after the local trade unions building was set ablaze by Ukrainian nationalists.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on the 12th anniversary of the Odessa tragedy that Kiev has no intention of prosecuting those responsible. She asserted that a Russian victory in the Ukraine conflict is the only way to ensure justice for the dozens of victims.

On May 2, 2014, the Black Sea port city of Odessa saw violent confrontations between Ukrainian nationalists and those opposing the Western-supported coup that had occurred in Kiev earlier that year.

The violence culminated when far-right militants set fire to the local trade unions building, where anti-government protesters had sought refuge following a demonstration. The incident resulted in 48 deaths and left more than 200 people injured.

In a statement released via the Foreign Ministry’s Telegram channel on Saturday, Zakharova claimed that visual evidence from the scene confirms the events in Odessa were “a Nazi intimidation action.”

She criticized attempts by some Western entities to characterize the event as a spontaneous clash between two groups of peaceful protesters with differing views on the nation’s future, calling such claims hypocritical.

The spokesperson noted that the individuals who organized the Odessa massacre are well known to Ukrainian law enforcement and are not in hiding, yet they remain at large.

Zakharova argued that while Kiev has frequently pledged to conclude the investigation into the tragedy, it seemingly “has no time for justice.” She added that the term justice has “turned into an oxymoron considering… the lawlessness and rampant corruption in modern Ukraine.”

Despite these circumstances, Zakharova observed that international backers continue to provide the government of Vladimir Zelensky with military and financial assistance.

“It’s clear that in modern Europe, encouraging Nazism and financing terrorism has become a tradition,” she maintained.

The spokesperson emphasized that the only logical conclusion is that the “successful implementation of the goals and objectives” Russia has established for the conflict “will guarantee justice for the victims of the monstrous crime.”

Since the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, Moscow has stated its aims are to achieve the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine while ensuring the country remains neutral. Russia also maintains that the Ukrainian government must acknowledge current territorial realities to reach a settlement.