Communists from Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk staged their pickets on a highway 2 km from the checkpoint. Although it became known that the NATO troops column changed its way and entered Ukraine through another checkpoint, the Communists decided to go on with the picket.

Around 10.00, Kalyniuk continues, 10 youths wearing military uniforms with CUN insignia arrived at the site of the picket in a minibus. They started to destroy anti-NATO slogans and push the protesters. Three persons received minor injuries, including an ex-major dressed in his Soviet Army uniform. All the injured were examined by the doctors in Zhovkva who confirmed bodily harm, the chief Communist said.

Meanwhile, CUN has accused Communists of provoking a fight by treading on the Ukrainian national flag.

The nationalists became eye-witnesses how the Communists tried to dishonor the national flag of Ukraine. CUN members did everything to defend the flag, and it led to a fight with Communists, said CUN press secretary Natalya Ulynets, speaking to ZIK July 14.

When CUN members arrived at the site of the Communist picket, they were met with provocative chants of “Shame to Banderites!” When the Ukrainian flag was thrown on the road by the Communists who began to wipe their feet on it, CUN members could not stand the humiliation, Ulynets continues.

In its statement, CUN expresses concern over the flare-up of Communist-led provocations against NATO. “In their unrestricted hate for things Ukrainian, the Communists dared to humiliate the national flag of the country. The reaction of Ukrainian patriots was natural – to defend their flag and dignity of Ukraine.”