Kiev: Ukraine's presidential polls are nearing. The election date is March 31. And the ultra right nationalist groups have become visibly volatile. They are protesting against an alleged corruption in the military sector of Ukraine. Thousands of them marched to President Petro Porosheko's headquarters.
As a sign of protest, they also threw funeral flowers at the police to remind them of the thousands of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the conflict with the Russia backed rebels in Eastern Ukraine.
The number of ultra-nationalists is estimated at about 10,000, and they can quickly take thousands to the streets and resort to violence. Mostly teenage members of the ultra-right groups have followed war veterans' guidance, practising martial arts and learning how to handle weapons.
President Poroshenko is preparing to run for the office for a second turn this time.
Although, the ultra right nationalists have played important role in fighting with the Russia backed rebels, but now they are becoming increasingly bold. Their activities have been against the traditional democratic ideals.
Torch-bearing ultra-right activists regularly march to the beat of drums across the downtown Ukrainian capital, chanting "Death to traitors of Ukraine!"
The nationalist groups have also assaulted several LGBT and women rights activists, attacked Roma encampments around the country, derailed a lecture on the history of the Holocaust and brawled with pro-Russia veterans and pro-Russian presidential candidate supporters.
Most of the members in such groups have proper training of warfare. They have fought with rebels in the east. They have a military style structure.
Though, these groups have failed to unite for a single presidential candidate, they have gained a lot of momentum in the recent times. They have become strong and the government has been reluctant to challenge them.
Andriy Yermolayev, the head of the New Ukraine independent think tank, said that the government in the past had turned a blind eye to the rise of nationalist groups as it sought to posture itself as a bulwark of stability in the country.
He added that now the ultra-right has turned on the authorities and are challenging them.
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