Commentary: Protesters' cry out for more body armour and guns

The Sun was shining and Independence Square was again full this morning.

Families continued to head to the 140 hectare country estate of the deposed president with its private zoo, car collection, yacht harbour and gold-plated toilets. The chatter on the street was about who would be running in the elections set to take place in a few months time and the need, meanwhile, to bring those who had looted the country to justice.

Not many people had heard that Catherine Ashton was flying to Kiev later today, the first Western official to do so since regime change. The official line is that the European Union foreign policy chief   was coming here to promote dialogue between the two sides, but the visit will be seen as a declaration of Western support for the opposition.

That was most welcome; there is fear that with the Sochi Olympics out of the way, Vladimir Putin is preparing to make his move.  Viktor Yanukovych, the fallen leader, rumours abound, has been spotted in Crimea, where the Russian Black Sea fleet is based. The apprehension was that wherever he was, the plot was to divide the country, or even reclaim the capital.

“It’s good that she is coming, it shows we are not being abandoned” said Denis Melnyk, a schoolteacher. “But we need more than just words of support at this moment: we are in danger and we must continue to be vigilant. But as you can see, we have not got much to do so.”

The Samooborona Maidanu, or Self Defence Volunteers of the Maidan ( as the Square has become known)  were still very much in evidence with their wooden clubs. The hardliners among them are far better armed and they had driven off the security forces from the streets in ferocious fighting. But there were doubts which way the police and army would swing if the crunch came.

A group of the volunteers were manning the barricades in  mismatched  military fatigues.  Andreyi Hordiyenko wore a British Army issue set of body armour, with the blood group of the original owner A+ and a serial number, PA 5782,  on the front. It was, he said, given to him by a Polish friend, a soldier who had served in Afghanistan.  “ There are many like him who have military training, who would come to help if the Russians invade” he insisted.

Others around the 28 year old electrical contractor were doubtful just how many from neighbouring countries would come if there really was a war. But the UK, they held, could certainly  help now by seizing the assets of oligarch’s linked to Mr Yanukovych.  The name Rinat Akhmetov came up several times; Ukraine’s richest man who bought the most expensive flat in London three years ago.

“ I looked up how much it cost [an estimated 136 million pounds] ; but we shouldn’t be surprised, just look at how much Yanukovych spent on his home while the rest of us suffered” exclaimed  Mr Melnyk. “Why doesn’t he do something about it?” He pointed to a poster bearing David Cameron’s face, next to those of Angela Merkel and Barack Obama.

The UK has offered to help organize an international financial rescue package for the Ukraine.; Chancellor George Osborne says he is “ ready with a chequebook” to start the ball rolling. “How long will that take?” Asked Mr Hordiyenko. “They should send us more of these” he added, pointing at his body armour, “ and weapons”.

There is, of course, no chance of that. The West has no appetite to become involved in military conflict, I pointed out. “Let’s hope Putin also feels that way, otherwise the killings we have seen so far will be nothing more than a childrens’ party,” was Mr Melnik’ grim forecast.