In 2024, the first action of the initiative “Money for the Armed Forces” took place near the Kyiv City State Administration. The meeting was monitored by the OZON group

On Saturday, February 3, the first campaign of 2024 took place in front of the Kyiv City State Administration, organized by the initiative “Money for the Armed Forces”. We recall that this action took place every Saturday for several months last year (15 actions) to encourage the Kyiv City Council to increase financial support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The course of the peaceful meeting

The OZON volunteers started the monitoring at 10:00 AM. At the beginning of the campaign, the organizers announced that in case of an air raid, everyone should go to the nearest shelter: underground passages and the Khreshchatyk metro station. They also reminded the main requirements of the action: 

• 20% of the Kyiv city budget should be allocated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and reports on the use of funds should be transparent and public.
• The city should become inclusive.
• The city should assist in equipping medical facilities and rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers.

Afterwards, the protesters actively shouted slogans. At 10:30, the organizers announced the guest of the peaceful meeting – musician Gonya, who made a speech and performed the song “How?”. Then, several people were invited to speak, supporting the demands of the campaign in their theses. At 10:54 a.m., some of the protesters joined a round dance, accompanied by a kolomyika with such lyrics: “Both pavement and roundabouts. New buildings. Let’s make artificial parks and artificial islands!”. The government is being lazy. But why be worried – a volunteer will buy it.” Later, the participants returned to the steps of the Kyiv City State Administration again, and the organizers announced a minute of silence. At 11:00, the crowd sang the Ukrainian anthem.

The number of participants in the peaceful assembly: 569 with an error of +- 50 people.

The work of law enforcement agencies

• 6 officers of the Dialogue Police
• 9 officers of the Special Police
• 2 officers of the Security Police, including one officer without a special badge. 
• 10 employees of the Main Department of the National Police. Among them – 5 employees without any means of personal identification. 3 employees without badges. 
• 1 employee of the municipal guard.

On the nearby territory were recorded: 2 police cars, 5 police buses (probably with the reserve of the police), 1 bus of the Main Department of the National Police, 1 municipal car.

The slogans were:

• Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!
• Glory to the nation! Death to the enemies!
• Ukraine is above all!
• Putin khuylo!
• Russian warship, go f* yourself
• Money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces!
• Glory to the soldiers of the Armed Forces thrice! Glory! Glory! Glory!
• Free country! Transparent budget!
• Allocated! Assimilated! Reported!
• Government, do your job!
• One, only, united Ukraine!
• Other.

The participants used 2 flags of the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) and at least 24 flags of Ukraine. Volunteers also recorded 7 dogs that joined the action. The campaign was attended by media representatives, including: “Espresso”, “Suspilne”, and “TV2000”. The monitoring ended at 11:16. The action was monitored by Ivanna Malchevska, coordinator of the OZON public monitoring group and manager of the Center for Civil Liberties, and OZON volunteer Jan Dubicki. 

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