For now, the country is still far from being stable. Several times already, employees of the National Bank – currently controlled by the Maidan self-defence – have attempted to steal gold or huge sums of money in US dollars or Ukrainian currency. The last time, they tried to embezzle cheques worth several million dollars. If this happens in Kiev, it is not difficult to imagine what is happening in the provincial towns and regional centres. As strange as it seems, in Donetsk the situation is under the control of a governor appointed by Yanukovych, recognised by the new government. Then again, it knows perfectly well that these are likely to be his final days as governor.
Yes, in Donetsk there are rallies against nationalists and against the Maidan, but order is respected; the police in the streets defend the handful of Euromaidan supporters from aggressive local citizens who are convinced – who knows why – that, in the near future, their city will be occupied by the inhabitants of western Ukraine.
Paranoia is everywhere. Not only in Crimea and Donetsk.
In Kiev, the police are almost invisible. A few nights ago, I was driving through town and I felt as if I were on the set of an apocalyptic film. Not one police patrol car, not a single traffic police van. Instead, there were groups of men – fifty or so in each group, a mix of all ages – positioned every five hundred yards, all over the city, armed with long truncheons, scrutinising every vehicle that passed. They stopped some to check the identities of the driver and passengers. I was alone in my car, which is probably why I was not stopped even once, but they still watched me carefully as I drove past. These patrols continue to survey the streets at night. They are making sure that no one sets fire to any vehicles, that everything remains calm. During the last few nights, they have caught several thieves and handed them over to the police.
And yesterday in Kiev, I saw joint motorised patrols: one police car and one car driven by Automaidan volunteers. What struck (and delighted) me was that the Automaidan flag flew above both vehicles.