It's a war not only with Russia: Odesa commemorates the events of May 2

On May 2, a rally was held in the center of Odesa to commemorate Ukrainian patriots Igor Ivanov and Andriy Biryukov, who died on this day in 2014.

As an Intent correspondent reported, the event was organized by the public organization "We are making you nervous".

At the intersection of Deribasovskaya and Preobrazhenskaya streets, where a memorial plaque to Igor Ivanov was installed, activists laid flowers and sang the Ukrainian anthem. A new memorial banner has also appeared near the place where the activist was killed.

Photo: Intent / Oleksiy Kravchuk

The head of the NGO, Kateryna Musienko, emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the events of May 2 and fighting the ideology of the "Russian world."

"We also hope not to see mourning ribbons on the flags of Ukraine or flags of Ukraine at half-mast. Therefore, on this day, we are grateful that there is no Odesa People's Republic. There is a whole, independent, free, sovereign, united Ukraine, for the sake of which we will all fight. To be an activist in Odesa, you also have to have the courage to speak out, not to hide," said Kateryna Musienko.

Another activist took the floor and said that May 2 was the day when Ukrainians did not win.

"Back then, we had to completely drive the 'Russian world' out of Odesa. This did not happen, and we are still suffering the consequences. Because the war we are waging is not only a war with Russia, but with its ideology, expansion, and the "Russian world," which must be completely destroyed," he emphasized.

The activist also noted that one should not expect ceasefires or "division of spheres of influence," because this war is existential. According to him, either Ukraine or Russia and its imperial ideology can survive.

"The 'Russian world' is an ideology of corpses, genocides and conquests. And Ukraine is freedom, it is civilization. We see this every day. Therefore, our victory is a matter of time," he summarized.

May 2 is the eleventh anniversary of the tragic events in Odesa. On this day in 2014, members of the Odesa anti-Maidan attacked Ukrainian activists in the city center. Shots were fired during the clashes, and several people were killed.

In March 2025, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on the events of May 2, 2014, in Odesa, recognizing Ukraine's responsibility for the actions of state authorities that led to the deaths. At the same time, the Court noted that the root cause of the tragedy was Russian propaganda and destabilization of the situation in the country.

Photo: Intent/Oleksiy Kravchuk.

Ірина Глухова