Miners march in Donetsk against “anti terrorist operation”

A thousand miners and relatives, from 16 different mines, demonstrated today, June 18, in Donetsk demanding an end to Kiev’s “anti terrorist operation” and the withdrawal of troops from the Donbas. 

According to a report in Novosti Donetska, “more than a thousand Donetsk miners and their wives took part in anti-war rally” from the monument to the victims of fascism to Lenin’s square.

There were representatives from 16 different mines from Donetsk, Snezhnogo, Kirova, Shakhterska, Makeeevka and other cities. They raised placards with the names of their mines: “Mine Chelyuskincev name”, “Yuzhnodonbasskaya number 3”, etc. There were people with anti-war posters: “withdrawal”, “Gorlivka against fascism!”

Protesters said that they are not “separatists” but ordinary people who live in the Donbass. Marching miners shouted slogans like: “Donetsk Republic”, “Donbass – that’s us!”

Under the stage lined up a row of women who held posters with children’s drawings and written appeals: “I do not want to fall asleep to the rumble of fighter or to mom crying and dying parents,” “We are for peace and freedom, for a peaceful sky. This is our credo, Donbas children. ”

The main demand of the speakers on the stage was the immediate withdrawal of troops from the Donbass. The organizers promised that this was not going to be their last protest.

Russian NTV channel also carried a VIDEO report of the protest.