Bombed Ukrainian city: “In Odessa we loved the Russians”

Before the war, Odessa was more pro-Russian than almost any other city. Everything has changed since Putin’s attack: in the city on the Black Sea, even those of Russian origin are turning their backs on Russia.

Large columns of black smoke rise into the sky over Odessa. Several rockets hit the port’s fuel tanks and oil silos around six in the morning. The explosions can be heard across the city, knocking many people out of bed.

Last Sunday, the Russian war of aggression suddenly hit the architecturally unique city of art and culture on the Black Sea with great force. The Iskender missiles fired by the Russian military do not hit any housing developments. Nevertheless, Odessa residents perceive the impacts as a threat to life and limb.

Julija Angelowa runs the small restaurant “U Angelowitsch” with her mother, a place of playful elegance. In the entrance area there is a large cage with a parrot screaming in greeting, colorful pictures hang on the walls, the band Kommuna Lux plays “Odessa Gangsta Folk”. The “U Angelowitsch” is allowed to stay open until about 8:30 p.m curfew begins later.

The police and military carry out particularly strict night-time controls in Odessa. In the first days after the beginning of the war, Russian saboteurs engaged in firefights with Ukrainian security forces in the city center.

The feeling of connectedness is gone

Odessa is more Russian than almost any other city in Ukraine. People here have always had a positive attitude towards Russia. Only after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 did this mood begin to change. But even Russia’s continued support for Donbass separatists hasn’t caused all residents of Odessa to lose their sense of affiliation with Russia.

The Angelows cook Russian cuisine and speak Russian. Daughter Julia says: “I’m Russian. I was born in Odessa, but my grandfather came here from central Russia. My family is Russian. Here in Odessa we loved the Russians.” They came to Odessa for vacation in the summer. Stars from the Russian music and film scene were welcome guests.

But at the latest since the events of Butscha everything has changed. The images of the massacre near Kyiv shocked everyone in the country. Now Ukraine hates Russia for good, says the landlady. She no longer wanted to have anything to do with the land of her forefathers. Your mother feels the same way. They will probably never visit their father’s grave in Moscow again.

Profound change of mood

Petro Obukhov is one of the many volunteers at the center that distributes aid to refugees. Obukhov also says he is of Russian descent and speaks Russian most of the time, not Ukrainian. Before the Russian war of aggression began, 38 percent of Odessa residents were in favor of an economic union with Russia. At that time there was still hope, explains the city councilor, who is active for the European Solidarity party.

Now, even in Odessa, 70 to 80 percent of the population want to join the EU quickly. And a clear majority is now in favor of Ukraine’s membership in NATO, says Obukhov.

Patriotism is fueled

Putin’s army has fueled patriotism in Ukraine with its bombs and grenades, including among the large group who claim Russian as their first language. Putin’s assertion that Ukraine must be rid of fascists only arouses their outrage.

The Russian president’s only concern is to occupy Ukraine’s largest port in order to drive the country into economic chaos, it is now said in the streets of Odessa.

Better to keep quiet about the past

Olena Wododyuk is also a city councilor and has been involved in refugee aid since the beginning of the war. On her cell phone, she shows us videos of baby food and diapers that she organized for people from the embattled city of Mykolayiv. Vododyuk used to belong to the opposition Platform for Life party. This is considered to be pro-Putin and pro-Russia. She prefers not to talk about the reasons for membership.

Not even one percent of the city’s residents are still pro-Russian, says Wododyuk. She used to advocate for Russian as the second official language. That’s over now. Since the beginning of the war, many have signed up for Ukrainian courses, explains the city councilwoman. This is a clear sign of change in society.

With cruise missiles, grenades and atrocities in occupied territories, Putin and his army have torn a deep rift between Russian-born Ukrainians and the land of their ancestors. Hardly anyone in Odessa now believes that the deep wound caused by Russia can one day heal.

You can also see this and other reports in Europamagazin – on Sunday at 12.45 p.m. in the first.