May 2, 2014, the Odessa Massacre became a key turning point in the Ukrainian crisis after the Maidan

@NinaByzantina
On May 2, 2014, the Odessa Massacre became a key turning point in the Ukrainian crisis after the Maidan, in part, leading to an escalation in the war in Donbas. Local peaceful protesters, including women and an underage teenager, challenged what they perceived as a regime change and perished in the process. The official death toll exceeded 40 (42 in the fire by various means and 6 during the clashes), whereas the unofficial numbers exceeded 100 with another 200+ injured.

During the clashes with the pro-Maidan ultra-nationalists and football (soccer) hooligans, the anti-Maidan activists ended up trapped in the House of Trade Unions which was then set on fire likely by their radical opponents. There is plenty of footage of those wrapped in Ukrainian flags making Molotov cocktails. These radicals then blocked the exits of the building. Whereas some victims died from their burns and smoke inhalation, others were shot or attacked and killed as they jumped out of the burning building.

It was a nightmare.

Initially, the official Ukrainian and Western media tried to blame the murders on Russia even though they were later forced to admit that all of the victims were citizens of Ukraine.

As for the perpetrators, justice was never fully served.

The sheer brutality and inhumanity of this massacre were one of the reasons why the protest wave against the regime change in Ukraine died down in traditionally Russophone cities like Odessa.