On July 27, over a thousand people gathered near the Presidential Office on Bankova Street in Kyiv to show support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and protest against demilitarization amid a so-called “comprehensive” ceasefire. The rally was organized by the Capitulation Resistance Movement and the Democratic Sokyra party.
Serhiy Zhuravel, father of Ukrainian Marine Yaroslav Zhuravel, travelled from his native village in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to take part in the protest meeting. Sergeant Yaroslav Zhuravel was the commander of a reconnaissance unit of the 137th Marine Infantry Battalion, who probably died of his wounds near Zaitseve, Donetsk Oblast after being left behind in the blazing heat following a failed evacuation mission.
The father of the fallen soldier stood before the large crowd of protesters and spoke passionately and angrily about his son and President Zelenskyy’s failure to act:
“I came here for myself and on behalf of my family to pay tribute and bow deeply before all the Ukrainian patriots, who have shown us such tremendous support during these dark hours and days. At this moment, I turn to [President Zelenskyy]…
Volodya, where were you when our grandmothers untied their handkerchiefs and gave us, Ukrainian volunteers, their last hundred hryvnias to take to the army?! Where were you, you bastard, when my son lay alone and wounded… (Zhuravel’s words are covered by shouts and applause from the protesters)… Who are you listening to? You have smeared the body of Ukraine with ugliness and filth! Vovochka, wake up! The people will wipe you off the face of the earth, from our suffering land! I curse you and all those slimy rats running around you! Glory to Ukraine!”
Euromaidan Press
