A year ago, Artem, a 19-year-old student, joined the mass protests in Kiev that toppled Viktor Yanukovich, Ukraine’s president. This week he was on the streets again but inspired by more prosaic complaints: rising heating prices, spiralling inflation and a collapsing currency.
“I was here on Maidan [Square] a year ago taking part in the revolution, but not for such deep economic pain. Frankly, our people simply can’t swallow it,” said Artem, joined by 1,000 other protesters outside a Kiev mayor’s office now occupied by Vitali Klitschko, the boxer turned protest leader.
Volodymyr, 58, said that of his 2,500 hryvnia ($90) monthly pension, 70 per cent went to utilities and basic costs, up from 30 per cent a year ago. “If they raise [heating bills] again by the 40 per cent that is planned, what will I eat?” he asked.