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Sacred November: how the Revolution of Dignity turned into a struggle for the future

November in the modern history of Ukraine has become a month of turning points when people unite for freedom and justice. From the Orange Revolution to the Revolution of Dignity, the 20th of November has gone down in national memory as a time of great change and struggle for the future. How the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 grew into a national movement that changed the course of history, why 11 years were not enough to show the perpetrators, and what November 2024 predicts for Ukraine – read more in the article Komersant ukrainskyi

on November 21, 2013, the government of Mykola Azarov announced the suspension of preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. This decision caused outrage among Ukrainians, who gathered on Independence Square in the evening of the same day. The first rally gathered about 1,500 people, including journalists, students, and activists. On November 24, hundreds of thousands of people came to the Maidan.

I remember how at the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity we, students of the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University, also joined the rally. The whole group went without hesitation, and our teachers were with us.

“We should have a date, but now the fate of the country is being decided on the Maidan. You can join the peaceful protest,” said one of the university professors.

Main statements and demands

Opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Vitali Klitschko and Oleh Tyahnybok called for the government’s decision to be canceled and for the agreement with the EU to be signed. The protesters also demanded the resignation of the Azarov government and President Viktor Yanukovych, who had betrayed national interests.

“We will create such a hell for this government! And they will realize that the will of the people must be taken into account,” said Oleh Tyahnybok.

Escalation of the conflict

on November 30, 2013, the Berkut special forces brutally dispersed peaceful protesters on Maidan, including many students. This act of violence became a turning point, after which protests spread throughout the country. on December 1, more than a million people took to the streets of Kyiv.

Bloody events

In January 2014, the first clashes between protesters and security forces began on Hrushevskoho Street. on January 22, the first murder took place – Serhiy Nigoyan and Mykhailo Zhyznevsky were killed. This pushed the movement to even greater resistance.

The bloodiest days were February 18-20, 2014, when security forces opened fire on the protesters. More than 100 people, known as the Heavenly Hundred, were killed in those days.

Status of investigations: is 11 years not enough time to punish those responsible?

Eleven years after the Revolution of Dignity, the issue of justice remains a painful one for Ukrainian society. Despite the considerable work of the investigative bodies, not a single sentence against the key figures in the Maidan cases has been fully executed.

According to the SBI, over 10 years, more than 200 criminal proceedings have been opened, 117 indictments have been submitted to court, and 239 people have been notified of suspicion. Among the suspects are the heads of law enforcement agencies and the Berkut special forces, who are accused of organizing the murders of 67 people and inflicting injuries on 887 activists, and former President Viktor Yanukovych, who was found guilty of treason and aiding and abetting in the conduct of an aggressive war on January 24, 2019, and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Despite this, many of the defendants either fled the country or were exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners in 2019. For example, former Berkut officers Pavlo Abroskin, Serhiy Zinchenko, and Oleh Yanishevskyi, who received lengthy sentences, were released before the final court decision was issued. A number of other suspects are hiding abroad, particularly in Russia, which makes it difficult to bring them to justice.

Recent verdicts demonstrate the ambiguity of justice. In October 2023, the court acquitted former Berkut officer Serhiy Tamtura, while another defendant, Oleksandr Marynchenko, received only 5 years in prison, which he has already served in a pre-trial detention center. At the same time, those convicted in absentia, Yanishevsky, Zinchenko and Abroskin, received sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison.

Yuriy Aksenin, son of the Heavenly Hundred hero Vasyl Aksenin, considers Tamtura’s acquittal unacceptable.

“There can be no such thing in the history of Ukraine that even after 100 years a Berkut from the Black Company would be acquitted,” said Aksenin.

Discussing the reasons for the delays in the trials, lawyer Victoria Deyneka noted that in some cases the proceedings were actively progressing:

“Some cases were quickly transferred to the courts, and the judges ensured a tight schedule of hearings. However, this is the exception rather than the rule, as there is no systematic approach to speeding up the consideration of cases.”

Achievements in Maidan cases

Oleksiy Donskiy, Head of the Department for “Maidan cases” at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, spoke about the verdict in the case of the shootings on February 20, 2014 on Instytutska Street:

“This verdict is extremely important for us, because the court found that the killings on February 20 were indiscriminate mass shootings of unarmed people who did not pose a threat to law enforcement. This confirms that the actions of the security forces were the execution of a deliberately criminal order.”

In addition, Donskoy emphasized that the verdict refutes the widespread manipulations about the existence of “third forces” or “Georgian snipers” who were allegedly involved in these events.

Victory of the people

on February 21, 2014, Yanukovych signed an agreement with the opposition to resolve the crisis, but fled Kyiv the next day. The Verkhovna Rada restored the 2004 Constitution and called for new elections.

The Revolution of Dignity is a struggle for rights and freedoms, and punishment of the perpetrators is a necessary step in restoring justice. This is the only way to honor the memory of the Heavenly Hundred heroes and ensure public trust in the legal system.

The sacredness of November: Ukrainians change history

In different years, Ukrainians have repeatedly organized mass protests at the end of November that changed the course of history. And the 20th of this month has acquired a special sacredness. In addition to the Revolution of Dignity, which began on the evening of November 21, Ukrainians will carry other important events through the ages:

• The Orange Revolution (2004): on November 22, mass protests began over the falsification of the second round of the presidential election. This led to a second round of voting, which was won by Viktor Yushchenko.
• Tax Maidan (2010): on November 22, several tens of thousands of entrepreneurs gathered on the Maidan to protest the adoption of the new Tax Code. The events were reminiscent of the revolutionary year of 2004, although they were not as large-scale.

November 2024: what to expect?

For the past three November’s, Ukrainians have been forced to continue fighting for freedom and independence. Today, Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine continues. And now the government is standing side by side with the military, volunteers and civilians.

Much has been accomplished: the liberation of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson (by the way, on November 11, 2022) and many days of struggle ahead. Commenting on the Victory Plan during his visit to the United States, the Head of State called November a crucial time for the course of the war.

It is expected that the new US President Donald Trump could have a significant impact on Ukraine’s future. After all, Trump’s statements indicate a desire to stop the war in Ukraine. Time will tell on what terms.

on November 19, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Internal Resilience Plan of Ukraine. its 10 points include strengthening defense positions, economic development, support for communities and veterans, and active cultural diplomacy.

It was on the night of November 19 that Ukraine launched its first ATACMS on Russian territory. Our country became a central topic in the world media.

Despite the fact that on November 20, they are trying to intimidate Ukraine with another missile attack, Storm Shadow missiles are flying into Russia after ATACMS.

All the events have clearly articulated our motto: Together to Victory. The strength of Ukrainians is in unity.