Revolution of Dignity

February 2014 Euromaidan riots
Part of the Euromaidan
Remains of the Euromaidan Headquarters at the Trade Unions Building on 19 February
Date	18 February 2014 – present
Location	Mariinsky Park and Instytutska Street (at first), Maidan Nezalezhnosti (later), Kiev, Ukraine 50°27′0″N 30°31′27″E
Caused by	Clashes during protesters' march on parliament Russian pressure to end protests
Goals	Ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych Return of 2004 constitution
Methods	Protesting, riot, civil disobedience
Status	Ongoing
Parties
Euromaidan protesters Euromaidan self-defense units and other people Right Sector Ministry of Internal Affairs Berkut riot police Tiger special forces Interior Troops of Ukraine Titushky
Lead figures
Vitali Klitschko Yuriy Lutsenko Ruslana Vitaliy Zakharchenko (acting Minister of Internal Affairs) Oleksandr Yakymenko (Security Service of Ukraine)
Number
20,000+ protesters 7,000+ servicemen water cannon trucks / BTRs
Casualties and losses
Deaths: 88-100 Injured: 1,100+ Arrested: 77 Deaths: 13 Injured: 272 Captured/Missing: 67
Deaths: 28 Injuries: 445 Ministry of Healthcare totals (Feb 20, 06:00 LST)

For wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, demanding closer European integration, see Euromaidan. For a timeline, see Timeline of the Euromaidan.

On 18 February 2014, 20,000 Euromaidan protesters in Kiev advanced on Ukraine's parliament in support of restoring the Constitution of Ukraine to its 2004 form, which had been repealed by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine shortly after Yanukovich's 2010 election. Police and protesters fired guns, with both live and rubber ammunition, and police used tear gas and flash grenades in an attempt to repel thousands of demonstrators, who fought back with crude weapons and explosives. The most serious clashes took place at Mariinsky Park, on Hrushevskoho Street and on Institutska Street near Shovkovychna Street. At least 51 people were killed, including 12 policemen; at least 1,100 injured after police clashed with protesters during the day. Police later stormed the main protest camp on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. After President Yanukovych had asked opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk to surrender Yatsenyuk said, "we really are on the threshold of the most dramatic page in the history of our country."

On 19 February 2014, police checkpoints, restrictions on public transportation and schools closure were ordered by the authorities in Kiev, which according to Ukrayinska Pravda amounts to a de facto state of emergency. The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kiev was temporarily closed the next day. One member of parliament said in an interview that a state of emergency is de-facto implemented nationwide as transportation to the capital is paralyzed. On 20 February 2014 Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaliy Zakharchenko announced he had signed a decree authorizing the usage of live ammunition against protesters.

Background

In the lead up to the February riots, an amnesty agreement was made with protesters wherein they would be granted release from charges in exchange for active protesters leaving occupied buildings. Protesters vacated all occupied Regional State Administration buildings, and activist in Kiev left the Hrushevskoho Street standoff; Kiev City Hall was also released back to government control. All protesters, previously jailed for taking part in protests were scheduled to be released after 17 February.

On Monday 17 February, Russia announced it would release another $2 billion of its 17 December 2013 agreed loan of $15 billion to the Ukrainian government, which The Washington Post credited as a reason for the protests. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Russian authorities had been pressuring the Ukrainian administration to take decisive action to crush protests; and it noted that the assault on Euromaidan protesters by police was ordered hours after the $2 billion from Russia was transferred. Several ministers from across Europe blamed Russia for exacerbating the violence.

On 14 February 2014 Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had stated "I want to say that I was incited and I'm incited to use various methods and ways how to settle the situation, but I want to say I don't want to be at war. I don't want any decisions are made using such a radical way". President Yanukovych further called on all politicians to refrain from radicalism and understand that "there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed and this line is law".

Timeline of the events

See also: Timeline of the Euromaidan

18 February

Initial clashes (Mariinsky and Lypky)

Protesters collect bricks to use in defense

A police vehicle is burned on crossroads in Kiev on 18 February

On the morning of 18 February, 20,000 demonstrators marching on the Verkhovna Rada, as parliament was set to meet and consider opposition demands for a new constitution and change in government. Around 09:45 in the morning the marching column of demonstrators broke through the police barricade of several personnel-transporting trucks near the building of Central Officer's Club of Ukraine (intersection of Hrushevskoho and Kriposny). The demonstrators unblocked the barricade and pushed the cordon of police aside. The clashes started after some two dozen demonstrators moved a police vehicle blocking their path to parliament. At 10:00 Batkivshchyna MP Lesya Orobets reported that police armed with shotguns Fort-500T started to attack with light and stun grenades from Shovkovychna Street and Lypska Street. As the column neared the Verkhovna Rada building, at 10:08 it met resistance of another cordon of police and started to press against it. There were reports that amount of protesters was reaching up to 50 thousands. At 10:18 other reports informed that on Instytutska Street were seen explosions and smoke, while people started to break down the block pavement (see sett). At 10:21 protesters started to throw the pavement blocks at police, while police defending with shields tried to pacify the crowd with stun grenades. At 10:22 the protesters barricaded near the Dynamo Stadium colonnade started to burn tires. At 10:28 there were reports that since 8 o'clock in the morning buses were unloading people guarded by police on the other side of Mariinsky Park on the Parkova doroha. About at 10:30 the parliament was set to vote for changes to the Constitution of Ukraine. Once parliament convened, the bill to restore the 2004 constitution was not registered by speaker Rybak, although he is legally obligated to do so. Oleksandr Doniy, an independent lawmaker, said that "They handed out the agenda (for today's session) as if there is no crisis in the country. All the issues on it are secondary," while opposition leader Vitali Klitschko accused the president of coercing members of parliament and orchestrating the situation. Around that time MP Volodymyr Ariev reported that police were shooting at the opposition female MPs.

Conflict on Maidan at night

At 10:33 the street fights between protesters and police shifted to Shovkovychna Street throwing pavement and grenades at each other. At 10:35 protesters started to wave 200 hryvnia banknotes in the face of titushky located in the Mariinsky Park. At 10:43 public activist Oleksandr Aronets reported that snipers were using firearms on people as he witnessed himself how a man fell to the ground next to him. There are photos of titushky using police equipment. At 10:52 a column of siloviks started from the parliament building towards Shovkovnycha Street. On a corner of Shovkovnycha and Instytutska groups of titushky were noticed along with police servicemen. At 11:00 there were seen protesters with serious wounds. At the intersection of Shovkovychna st., two women were injured by rubber bullets fired by police: one in the heart, one in the face. At 11:02 a fight began in Mariinsky Park between Anti-maidan and Euromaidan protesters, while policemen were throwing Molotov cocktails. At 11:05 Lesya Orobets reported that Berkut was carrying firearms. On Shovkovnycha Street a barricade of dump trucks was set on fire. At 11:09 a fire engine arrived on Shovkovnycha as the street was filled with thick black smoke. At 11:10 police started to use shotguns and throw grenades from tops of roofs into a crowd. Journalist Yanina Sokolovska (Izvestia in Ukraine) claimed that when people in camouflage were throwing grenades in crowd, protesters thought that those people were Berkut. At 11:18 from the scene of Party of Regions in Mariinsky Park started to play the Soviet song The Sacred War.

Raid on Party of Regions office and police retaliation

At 11:23 there was an assault attempt from Berkut, but it was unsuccessful as the crowd attacked back. At 11:25 there was the first report of protesters breaking doors to the headquarters of Party of Regions on Lypska Street. Berkut and protesters continued to exchange grenades and pavement blocks. At 11:30am protesters, among which was journalist Tetyana Chornovol, sacked and set ablaze the Party of Regions office. At 11:40 Oleksandr Aronets was reporting that grenades used by police contain metal shrapnel. At 12:05 number of journalists were reporting that next to the Verkhovna Rada building at protesters were thrown stun grenades that were tearing away limbs of the activists. At 12:12 the Minister of Healthcare Raisa Bohatyriova was attacked by protesters while she was descending by stairs from Mariinsky Park to Parkova doroha, but did get away unharmed. By 12:30pm police had regained control of the PR office. The administration of emergencies confirmed one dead after the raid on the office of Party of Regions. At 12:24 titushky and police continued to attack protesters in Mariinsky Park. At 12:33 Andriy Illyenko reported about the fact that building of Central Officer's Club was redesignated into a temporary medical office. At 12:48 Oleksandr Turchynov brought Novinsky to the office of Party of Regions. At 13:00 a security of PR office attacked a photographer of Radio Svoboda. Later (14:25) people from PR office severely beated up another photographer. Police used both live and rubber ammunition while repelling protesters, with dozens injured by 1pm. At least two men were shot in the head with rubber bullets. Thousands of police encircled the government district that includes the Presidential Administration, parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, and then chased down protesters while banging their shields. One protester with a head wound told the Kyiv Post that charging police officers "smashed everybody" in their advancing path, including women and girls. At 13:08 the coordinator of Euromaidan medical service reported about 25 wounded. At 13:21 Radio Svoboda reported that Euromaidan medics provided medical help to one of Internal Troop soldier and prevented him from being beating up by angry mob.

At about 1 pm protesters were breaking windows in one of the buildings of the Ministry of Healthcare in Mariinsky Park where a ministry PR office was located.

By 1:30pm, police charged protesters on foot with shotguns and fired into the crowd, hitting one man in the eye; he was bleeding heavily and taken away by paramedics. Protesters on Shovkovychyna Street pushed back hundreds of advancing police. Citizens set up barricades of benches and dumpsters to block the street. One officer was beaten unconcious by the crowd, while protesters themselves were seen bleeding with head wounds. Four officers on Institutska Street were stationed atop a building, lobbing stun grenades at the crowd while shooting at them from the vantage point; the building was then stormed by protesters and part was set on fire. Protesters forced their way to the roof, forcing police to retreat. The building on Institutska Street was described as the scene of the day's most violent clashes. At 13:30 Berkut and Internal Troops servicemen started their full scale assault along Instytutska Street firing directly into the crowd. At 13:48 there were reports of police utilizing water cannons to break through Shovkovnycha and Instytutska. Police detained MP's assistant Nazar Naumenko and Volodymyr Nazarenko (both from the Svoboda party). At 13:56 some MPs (Svoboda) attacked a police truck with arrested on Sadova Street. At 14:00 there were reports of sadistic police brutality. At 14:11 some journalists were reporting that police beside rifles also was using handguns. There were episodes of angry mob going out of control when government official luxury cars were in sight. At 14:30 Iryna Herashchenko was reporting that wounded were afraid of going to hospital as they could be arrested by police. At 13:34 Berkut detained four protesters, severely beaten them and took them into custody. Some MP (Svoboda) succeeded in allowing one of the protesters to be hospitalized. At 14:38 near the building of Supreme Court of Ukraine was a fight between titushky and Maidan self-defense, while witnesses were claiming that titushky had firearms. Police used clubs, tear gas and flash grenades this morning in a bid to repel the march. Protesters responded with sticks, stones and some explosives while other groups of demonstrators were massed on Hrushevskoho Street. At 14:56 there were reports of transportation disruption as ambulances were not able to reach wounded on time, while Lesya Orobets reported about the first three people dead.

By mid-afternoon, police pushed back up to 10,000 protesters from Mariinsky Park using tear gas, where barricades had been built earlier in the day. Pro-government demonstrators and "titushki"—or suspected hired government thugs—were also in the park. Demonstrators threw stun grenades at "titushki," filling the park with smoke. Other anti-government activists tried to keep the pro-government and anti-government forces apart.

Multiple outlets reported that police were armed with AK-74 assault rifles, and published photographs. Former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Hennadiy Moskal speculated that the troops wielding AK-74's could be Alpha Group units.

Protesters re-occupied Kiev city hall.

According to Russian state-owned media Izvestia, opposition activists armed with bats and iron rods allegedly beat to death computer engineer Valery Konstantinovich Zakharov in the raid on the Party of Regions office.

Advance towards Maidan

Also, at 3:45 p.m., hundreds of riot police advanced on Shovkovychna Street towards Ukraine's parliament, attacking protesters. Riot police and government supporters cornered a group of Euromaidan protesters on Mariinsky Park. The pro-government (titushky) supporters then captured and detained Euromaidan activists.

A police officer grabbed the gas mask of a Kyiv Post journalist on Institutska Street, and said "I love it! We love it!" of the police advance.

Mass protests in Lviv

At 15:51 there were reports of attacks on journalists among which a two-man group of Channel 5, a pair of journalists from Television News Service (TSN), and others.

Acting Security Services of Ukraine head Oleksandr Yakymenko and acting Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko issued a public warning at 4 p.m. to protesters to clear the streets within two hours: “If by 6 p.m. the lawlessness doesn't cease, we shall be forced to used all legal means to bring order.” At October Palace, visible from Independence Square, riot police threw bricks down the hill at protesters, including women, from a bridge along Institutska Street.

Two jet aircrafts appeared over Maidan according to media reports.

At 8pm, it was reported 50 unknown assailants were attempting to break into the Canadian consulate.

Attack on Euromaidan

Following warning from the Interior Ministry for all women and children to leave Maidan, police advanced on thousands of protesters on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) at 8pm with guns, a water cannon and an armored personnel carrier. Tents housing protesters were burning on the main square. Police justified their actions by stating they were conducting operations in an anti-terror campaign against "individuals who had clearly armed themselves". 2 SpilnoTV media tents were set on fire as a result of the police attack on Maidan. Hromadske TV reported earlier in the evening that that three armored vehicles were moved to Kiev streets at nightfall, including at least one that was stopped by demonstrators. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk called on the police to retreat 200 meters further up Institutska Street and urged both sides to call a truce until morning. Protesters on Maidan stacked tires and other burning debris to create a wall of fire between themselves and security forces.

The TV channel 5 Kanal's broadcast was shut down countrywide, and its website hacked. {{citation}}: Empty citation (help) It remained available through satellite (though with a brief interruption) and a live feed on YouTube. It resumed service some hours later.

Trade Union building, used as Euromaidan headquarters, on fire following police raid.

Near 10pm, it was reported that police had broken through the protesters' barricades on the eastern side of the perimeter on Maidan. Near 11pm Globus and Trade Unions buildings were on fire. Activists fired 2 water cannons.. Police then attempted to retake the occupied Trade Unions building but failed. Near 1am, the building was occupied by police forces, and the 6th floor set on fire. The fire then spread to the 7th floor, with people trapped inside; firefighters then arrived to help. 4 protesters were killed by police when storming the building as reported by journalist S. Tsegolko through Twitter. National resistance staff later confirmed there were no deaths due to the fire and the building was evacuated.

Presidential adviser Hanna Herman stated that negotiations between the government and opposition would only happen once peace is restored and crowds taken off the streets, and that "calling further for armed conflict is a great crime against the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian state." General Prosecutor of Ukraine Viktor Pshonka stated “Organisers of mass protests will be held accountable. We will demand the heaviest punishment both for those who revved people up to take part in today’s action and for those who organised and controlled them”.

By 11:30pm, 20,000 remained on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.

As of 9:30pm, law enforcement forces had managed to seize parts of Maidan.

The Kyiv Post also reported that witnesses noted bands of titushky roaming the streets, armed with clubs, and that there were reports of shooting from the gangs. The Kyiv Post later reported that Serhiy Morgunov stated titushky shot two men on Velyka Zhytomyrska Street and that one of them died. Titushky are identified by their white armbands to distinguish themselves from normal pedestrians.

Police snipers began to shoot at opposition politicians standing on the stage on Maidan; Oleksandr Turchynov was apparently hit and injured. He later confirmed that he believed he was hit by shrapnel from police stun grenades.

At 01:35 AM street lights were switched off around Maidan. The activists at Maidan believed this to hint at the beginning of a decisive assault.

Opposition leaders meeting with president Yanukovych

An emergency meeting was announced for 11pm between president Yanukovych and opposition leaders.

Emerging from a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko told Hromadske TV that the talks were not successful. Klitschko said that opposition leaders listened for more than an hour to Yanukovych's accusations that they were to blame for the 20 deaths on 18 Feb.. The president also demanded that the opposition force protesters leave Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Yanukovych also reportedly threatened Yatsenyuk and other opposition leaders with criminal prosecution.

In a message on Ukrainian television, President Yanukovych then addressed the opposition leaders “Separate yourself from the radical elements that seek bloodshed and conflict with law enforcement agencies,” he said, warning that if they failed to do so, he would “talk differently” with them. He added “The opposition leaders have ignored the basic foundation of democracy, the line had been crossed when they called people to arms”. The next day (20 February) these opposition parties (Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda) released a statement that stated "We never have and never will call people to arms. This is our principled position. The death of each person is a personal tragedy for each of us". Later that day the same three opposition parties released a statement that stated "To hold talks with the regime, the policies of which led to the deaths of many people, is an extremely unpleasant thing but we must do everything possible and even the impossible to prevent further bloodshed". The parties rejected dissolution of the protests (labelling it "counterproductive and unrealistic") and stated "It was not we who brought Maidan together and it is not for us to disperse it! People will decide themselves what to do depending on when and how their demands are satisfied".

19 February

Internal troops form a phalanx against protesters. Berkut policemen are standing behind.

The Kiev Metro was closed and main roads blocked by police. Bigger stores and malls on Khreshchatyk were closed; but according to an Euronews correspondent “Life away from the barricades is business as usual". Banks nearby the conflict zone did suspended the work of offices again.

In the early morning, titushky shot two protesters, killing one. At 07:20, (Party of Regions politician) Andriy Portnov during his speech on situation in the country asked the protesters to give up. By the 19th, the death toll had risen to 26 deaths on both sides.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched an "anti-terrorist" operation, while the intelligence services began investigating unnamed politicians over what was described as an illegal attempt to seize power. The decision to commence the antiterrorist operations involved the Security Service of Ukraine, the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Defense, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and central and local government, according to a statement published on the SBU website. According to political analyst Taras Berezovets, the decree means that the SBU "can search, seize property, detain protesters at will, "without a court order or other legal safeguards, and can detain and interrogate anyone who they suspect of being terrorist. They can kidnap you from street and keep you in jail without notifying families for up to 72 hours."

In the early morning of February 19, Olena Lukash announced that the opposition had refused to sign a declaration disapproving of radical measures. President Yanukovich had asked the opposition to stop occupying buildings and seizing arms, the opposition however declined to sign a common declaration to that effect.

President Yanukovych declared Thursday 20 February a day of national mourning.

An Euronews correspondent on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) reported “Overall, more people are arriving at Independence Square. They are coming from all parts of Ukraine". By 2:50pm, 5,000 remained on the square. Right Sector occupied the Kiev Central Post Office and the State Committee for Television and Radio, with the former acting as a new headquarters of operations.

Rioters burning tyres near Kiev Conservatory

President Yanukovich fired the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Volodymyr Zamana and replaced him with Yuriy Ilyin, who was previously the commander of the Ukrainian Navy. The Ukrainian ministry of defence announced it was redeploying units around the country to guard military facilities. The Director of the SBU Oleksandr Yakymenko stated that sites had been attacked in several regions, and included military bases and arms depots.

Priests of St. Basil's Greek Catholic Church in Kiev stated they are feared an attack by "titushki", who were gathering nearby and called on anti-government protesters to help them rebuff a potential attack.

The European Investment Bank froze activities in Ukraine, stating "For the time being the situation is so cruel that it would be politically the wrong signal, but also irresponsible vis-a-vis the people we asked to do the job, to be active on business in Ukraine".

Following a meeting between administration and opposition leaders late at night, both sides declared a truce and the start of negotiations. President Yanukovych issued a statement that he had agreed to “start negotiations with the aim of ending bloodshed, and stabilising the situation in the state in the interests of social peace”. According to opposition politician Arseniy Yatsenyuk the truce included a pledge from President Yanukovych not to launch a police assault that night. Right Sector did not agree to the truce. An Euronews correspondent on Maidan Nezalezhnosti reported that in the evening of 19 February there were more people on Maidan Nezalezhnosti then the previous day; adding "In general, all I have heard from people is the more they are attacked and the worse they are beaten, the more determined they are to stand back up and resume the struggle".

20 February

At 00:35 Interfax informed that President Yanukovych declared 20 February to be a day of mourning for those killed in the clashes.

Around 07:00 a truck column with soldiers of the 25th Airborne Brigade had a road accident. Based on the information from Anatoliy Hrytsenko the column was moving on Kyiv. Officially, soldiers were returning back to their base in Hvardiyske, Novomoskovsk Raion after returning from a military exercise in Crimea. The accident occurred a kilometer away from the town of Melioratyvne, Novomoskovsk Raion. Three soldiers died and nine more were injured.

In the early morning, five buses carrying protesters from Ivano-Frankivsk arrived on Maidan, and gunshots could be heard in the vicinity despite the agreed ceasefire. On the main stage, activists claimed that they had torn a shoulder patch from the uniform of an Russian Internal Troop soldier during the clashes, brandishing the patch as alleged proof of Russian involvement.

As day broke, fighting erupted between the two sides in central Kiev once more – less than 12 hours after the truce was agreed to. A statement from the Presidential Administration of Ukraine stated that the protesters went on the offensive: “They are working in organised groups. They are using firearms, including sniper rifles. They are shooting to kill,” it said. Opposition politician Vitali Klitschko issued a statement saying: “Armed thugs have been let loose in the streets to attack people and create an illusion that there is a confrontation between citizens”. The Kyiv Post reported that the Ukrainian Army and titushki are coming from the south. At 09:25 protesters pushed the Berkut back to the October Palace after security forces attempted to set fire to Kiev Conservatory which was being used as a field hospital for wounded protesters. At 09:32 it was announced that the parliament would not be convened. At 09:39 Ukrayinska Pravda reporter Oskana Denysova reported that Berkut was moving from parliament towards Arsenalna, while soldiers of Internal Troops and titushky were left around the parliament as the personnel of parliament was being evacuated. Special forces and titushky were both seen wearing yellow arm bands, allegedly for mutual identification. Protesters claimed to have seen snipers on Instytutska Street opening fire on the most radical activists.

Euromaidan protesters marched on police with shields and molotov cocktails, and forced them to retreat, managing to seize back control of Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) and capture up to 60 police. Many of the men were only 18 or 19 year old, were not trained and were armed only with rubber truncheons, and those with minor injuries were treated by medics. Interior Troops who surrendered during the clashes were held prisoner at the headquarters of the Energy Company of Ukraine and at the October Palace. At 10 am between 10,000 and 20,000 demonstrators remained.

Trains between Kiev and Lviv, one of the protesters' strongholds, were temporary suspended, a railway spokeswoman stating that this was because of damage to the lines. Because of repair works trains going to Kiev would arrive with a delay of up to ten hours; trains leaving Kiev ran according to schedule.

Head of the Kiev City State Administration Volodymyr Makeyenko resigned from the Party of Regions but stated he would continue to fulfill his function to ensure the city functioned properly. He then ordered the reopening of the Kiev Metro. By 15:00 the Kiev Metro was not yet working and ground-based transport in the city was rare. The metro was partly reopened in the early evening while interchange stations remained closed.

The Embassy of the United Kingdom in the city was temporarily closed due to ongoing situation in the country.

Radio Liberty published video footage of police special forces shooting protesters with Kalashnikov and sniper rifles. Acting Interior Minister Zakharchenko announced that combat weapons had been provided to police, stating, "We signed relevant orders as part of the Antiterrorist Center's work: the law enforcement officials have been provided with combat weapons, and they will be used in line with the law on police," Zakharchenko said in an address to the nation." In Donetsk, public service announcement billboards were erected, showing Berkut juxtoposed with images of children, promoting the Berkut as defenders of peace.

Interfax-Ukraine reported that at 15.00 hours "a group of unknown individuals" headed to the Presidential Administration Building. "Shots and explosions can be heard", according to the Interfax-Ukraine correspondent. The Euromaidan self-defense forced had repeatedly called from the stage on Maidan Nezalezhnosti not to go outside the Square perimeter.

Diplomatic efforts

The above mentioned clashes erupted shortly before the three visiting EU foreign ministers, Radosław Sikorski of Poland, Laurent Fabius of France and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, were due to meet president Yanukovich to push for a compromise with the Ukrainian opposition. The meeting was delayed for security reasons but began an hour late. Before the meeting Fabius said in an interview with BFM TV "Our purpose is to cause the Ukrainian administration to conduct elections. There is no solution other than elections".

The United States imposed visa bans on 20 Ukrainian government officials it considered “responsible for ordering human rights abuses related to political oppression”.

After a telephone conversation between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Yanukovych, Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin was sent as an envoy to Ukraine to try to mediate talks between the government and opposition at the request of president Yanukovich.

The European Union introduced visa and financial sanctions against those responsible for the application of violence in Ukraine.

Ukrainian political developments

Leader of the Party of Regions, Oleksandr Yefremov, travelled to Luhansk to meet with local leaders and law enforcement agents to discuss the possibility of the south-east of Ukraine declaring independence, and seceding from the state.

Party of Regions MP Sergiy Tigipko called for the resignation of Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Rybak (to be replaced by an opposition parliamentarian) and the urgent election of a prime minister supported by all factions. According to Tigipko "The president, the parliament speaker, the acting prime minister and opposition leaders have completely lost control of the situation in the country and do not offer any solutions to pacify the country. Their inaction is leading to increased confrontation and deaths. Immediate concrete steps, rather than negotiations, are needed to resolve the crisis in the country".

Head of the Kiev City State Administration Volodymyr Makeyenko and 12 People's Deputies resigned from the ruling Party of Regions. In Rivne and Zhytomyr, the Party of Regions formally disbanded with all MPs from these regions leaving the party as well.

Events across Ukraine

See also: 2014 Ukrainian Regional State Administration occupations

Reactions

Domestic responses

Political response

• Iryna Herashchenko, a member of parliament with Vitali Klitschko's opposition Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform party, commented on the critical state of Ukrainian health services , saying: "Emergency services and all are filled to the brink. There is nowhere to put people up. The doctors are wonderful. Their sacrifice is impressive. They work with full dedication, fight for everyone who is injured."
• After negotiations with President Viktor Yanukovych, opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk said that the talks "ended with nothing...deputies from the opposition said Yanukovych threatened all opposition leaders with criminal responsibility. We only had one item: immediately start the truce, but they told us to effectively give in. Since a truce has not been announced and the government has no such desire, we're standing on the brink of the most dramatic page of the history of Ukraine."
• In a statement on his party's website, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko wrote:"Yanukovych reacts to the situation absolutely inadequately. All he's been talking about is that the leaders of the opposition should call on people on Maidan (Kyiv's Independence Square) to end the standoff and lay down arms...these are police forces that are violently shooting at protesters downtown Kyiv. "This is what I suggest: authorities should immediately withdraw law enforcers and put an end to the bloody crackdown, as people continue to die. This is what I've told Yanukovych. Could talks be a solution while blood has been shed? But unfortunately he has no understanding of the situation."
• Acting Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov told a 19 February 2014 cabinet meeting "It is unacceptable to talk about European values and the desire for a new level of Ukraine’s development and at the same time sacrifice human lives, destroy the state’s and citizens’ goods, burn their cars and apartments, and shame the country in the eyes of international community".
• Acting Minister of justice Olena Lukash accused the opposition of violating agreements reached and demanded an immediate end to violence. She argued that the escalation was the fault of extremists.
• Party of Regions MP Oleh Tsariov appeared on Russian TV and announced they would clear Maidan within an hour, and stated "After we bring order to Maidan, we'll bring it nationwide."
• Party of Regions MP Vadym Kolesnichenko blamed the opposition and Angela Merkel for the violence in Ukraine.

• On 18 February 2014 in an interview with Hromadske TV Inna Bohoslovska said that she saw policemen disguised as protesters shooting at other policemen. The same day the MVS website was showing people dressed as protesters with firearms.

Regions

• Presidium of the Supreme Council of Crimea (the parliament of Crimea) – "Peaceful Crimea is extremely worried by another outbreak of violence in the center of Kiev. Slaughter on the capital's streets proves that the opposition has perceived numerous concessions on the part of the authorities as a manifestation of weakness and has taken advantage of the amnesty law to take a respite before a new attempt to forcibly seize power in the country," and that "innocent people died at the hands of the lawless gunmen on February 18. These are no longer peaceful protests, of which the opposition leaders and biased mass media outlets have said repeatedly, and not even mass unrest. This is the beginning of a civil war."
• Deputies of the Luhansk Oblast declared - ″We turn to the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich with the demand to take strict measures concerning those, who today virtually went with war against our country, and to introduce a state of emergency. The time of peaceful negotiations has ended - negotiations cannot be held with terrorists and extremists!″
• Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People – former chairman Mustafa Abdülcemil Qırımoğlu stated "They will answer for the blood of every patriot. I urge all citizens to create pockets of resistance. I am proud of you, dear compatriots. I am proud that I am Ukrainian ... the highest title in the world.

Oligarchs

• Presidential supporter Rinat Akhmetov denounced the violence, "There are no circumstances that would justify the use of force against peaceful citizens. Peaceful citizens must not suffer in any situation. This must be the main objective for the government, the opposition and all conflicting parties. Human losses and injuries suffered by protesters and law-enforcers during street clashes is an unacceptable price for political mistakes."
• Viktor Pinchuk – "A peaceful solution must be found, it is imperative to refrain from the use of force and find a compromise. Ukraine since its independence has avoided bloodshed. We must return to this tradition immediately. From this minute, this is the responsibility of everyone—those in power, the opposition, civil society, business. It is time for all sides to take courageous steps towards compromise that they may not yet have been ready to take even this morning. For each of us, love for Ukraine must be immeasurably more important than any other feelings and interests."

International reactions

International organizations

• United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 19 February called for an end to the “unacceptable” violence in Ukraine and called for an amnesty for those detained during the unrest.

• European Union — EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged president Yanukovych, the government together with the leaders of the opposition “to address the root causes of the crisis”. In addition, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, issued a statement expressing his condolences to the families of those killed, and calling for an end to the violence. He also noted that "The EU has been offering its sincere assistance to facilitate political dialogue between the sides and de-escalate the situation. We continue to believe that constitutional reform, formation of a new inclusive government and creating conditions for democratic elections constitute the only way-out of this deep and long-lasting political crisis. [...] Yet, we have also made it clear that the EU will respond to any deterioration on the ground. We therefore expect that targeted measures against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force can be agreed by our Member States as a matter of urgency"

• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe — OSCE chairperson-in-office, Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter, on 19 February urged Ukrainian authorities "to do their utmost to defuse the menacing situation in the country" and put forward suggestions for measures to de-escalate the conflict, including the assignment of "an impartial international facilitator, possibly working in tandem with a respected Ukrainian personality, and dispatching an international expert team to establish facts on violent incidents and human rights violations".

• Council of Europe — Secretary General of the Council, Thorbjørn Jagland in a statement on 18 February insisted that the Ukrainian Parliament should have a "serious debate on how to end the crisis" and offered the legal and constitutional support of the Council of Europe.

States

• Canada - The Canadian foreign minister John Baird on 18 February declared in a statement: "Canada calls on all sides to show restraint and to cease all acts of violence immediately. No act of violence or repression today will go unnoticed by the Government of Canada, and we will work with our allies in the international community to ensure that those responsible will be held to account." On the same day, the foreign minister also said that Canada would supply demonstrators in Ukraine with medical aid.
• Estonia - Foreign minister Urmas Paet in a statement on 19 February said "We need to help Ukraine out of this crisis" and also stated that "Estonia is prepared to consider punitive measures against all those responsible for the increase in violence."
• Italy - Foreign minister Emma Bonino on 20 February called for visa sanctions against those responsible for violence, a weapons embargo and also humanitarian support.
• Latvia - The Latvian ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement on 19 February, putting the full responsibility for the escalation of the crisis on the Ukrainian government. The statement also read, "Those guilty of causing violence must be held responsible."
• Lithuania - The Lithuanian foreign ministry also issued a note stating in part "We demand to halt violence immediately and thoroughly investigate all the incidents, which have resulted in deaths and injuries, and to arraign the perpetrators before court. Once again, we invite the European Union member states to discuss a possibility of applying target measures against those responsible for the use of force."
• Czech Republic — Foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek on a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador on 19 February described the use of violence against protesters as "absolutely unacceptable" and that "under no circumstances, should internal problems be solved in such a manner".
• Finland — Foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja in a statement on 18 February expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, urging an end to the violence and showing support for the work of the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe in their attempts to mediate in the conflict.
• Germany — Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned “Those responsible for making decisions that lead to further bloodshed should know that Europe’s decision on sanctions will be reconsidered for sure”.
• Hungary — Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed its deep concern and condolences to the families of the victims. It stated Hungary as a neighbouring country is interested in the stable, democratic, and integrate Ukraine, as well as directly interested in the legal certainty of the Trans Carpathian Hungarians.
• Romania - The President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, has stated that the events threaten the stability in the region. Furthermore, the president has declared that "Romania agrees with the proposed individual sanctions, for the silver lining has been crossed. The 25 deaths serve as evidence for the fact that both parties (e.n. the Ukrainian government and the protesters) have crossed the line". The Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, has made an immediate appeal to peace, stating that "diplomatic efforts will lead to the cessation of violence".
• Russia — Russian Foreign Ministry stated 19 February "What is happening is a direct result of the policies of appeasement by Western politicians and European institutions, which from the beginning of the crisis turned a blind eye to the aggressive actions of radical forces in Ukraine, thereby encouraging them to escalate and provoke the legitimate authority."Template:Source needs translation According to the press secretary of the President of Russia, Russia considers the events in Ukraine as a coup attempt.Template:Source needs translation

On 20 February 2014 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia could only cooperate fully with Ukraine when its leadership was in “good shape”. He added that Russia wants a "strong government" in Ukraine, "so that people don't wipe their feet on the authorities like a doormat". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov likened threats of EU sanctions "on those responsible for Ukraine violence to blackmail" “The EU is also trying to consider the introduction of sanctions and at the same time they come to Kiev on uninvited missions”.

• Sweden — Foreign minister Carl Bildt issued a statement saying in part, "The EU will not hesitate on measures against interests of persons associated with repression and violence in Ukraine."
• Turkey Turkey called for Stabilization of Situation in Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a Press Conference, "Ukraine is one of the countries with a strategic location in the Black Sea basin. Stability of Ukraine and peace in the country is of vital importance to the whole region".
• United States — President Barack Obama speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto warned on Wednesday 19 February that there would be consequences if violence continues in Ukraine and that the Ukrainian military should not step into a situation that could be resolved by civilians. Previously White House spokesman Jay Carney had urged president Yanukovych to restart a dialogue with opposition leaders. US also imposed a visa ban on 20 senior Ukrainian officials and other people it accused of being behind the violent crackdown on protesters.

Politicians

• Senior United States Senator John McCain stated, "Watch out for Vladimir Putin because he will try to make mischief because he believes that Ukraine is part of Russia [...] We have to side with the protesters and the power has to be dispersed from the hands of (Ukrainian President Viktor) Yanukovych, who changed the constitution and put virtually all power in the hands of the President [...] I think we need to understand that Vladimir Putin really is committed to this whole idea of the Russian empire, or the Russian near abroad [...] The President should be working with Congress to prepare a set of sanctions against Ukraine that would be put into effect unless this comes to a halt," said McCain."
• Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, said that Russia bought Ukraine's sovereignty with its latest offer of cash: "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin has bought Ukraine's sovereignty for $2 billion he loaned Ukraine. Unfortunately (Ukraine's) president gave up Ukraine's sovereignty. The fate of Europe, not just Ukraine is now being decided in Kyiv. I'm thrilled with the courage of Ukrainians. You will win." He also said that Europe should have taken strict measures regarding Ukraine. "How many times could they express concerns? (Europe's) reaction is absolutely inadequate."
• The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Mircea Geoană, has stated that a civil war within Ukraine is "not excluded". Geoană considers the crisis to be "the most severe crisis at Romania's border in many years". He further stated that this is "possibly the worst geopolitical situation between the East and the West since the downfall of the Soviet Union". The former minister made an appeal to "diplomacy and wisdom".

Non-governmental organizations

• Freedom House — In a February 18 statement, President David J. Kramer said that "Legitimate democratic leaders do not order riot police to attack protesters asking for a more open government" and suggested that "Yanukovych has forfeited his legitimacy and needs to step down."

Russian military personnel

In interview to Pravda.ru, Russian Colonel of GRU Spetsnaz (in reserves) Aleksandr Musienko that the conflict can only be solved by means of force. In his interview Musienko stated that Ukraine proved that it is cannot exist as an independent sovereign state.

UEFA match moved

On 19 February 2014, UEFA announced that it had decided to change the venue of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match Dynamo Kyiv vs. Valencia from Olympic Stadium, Kiev, to GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus, due to the riots in Kiev.

Casualities

Representatives of the opposition stated that Kiev hospitals were overflowing with injured people. Following the first day of clashes, 26 were announced dead-16 protesters and 10 police. Those hospitalized included three minors, five journalists and 79 police.

Deaths

See also: List of people killed during Euromaidan

From 18-19 February, the official death toll according to the Ministry of Healthcare was 28, 10 of whom were police & Berkut.

By 1 pm of 20 February at least 34 protesters more had been shot dead by police, with reporters verifying the bodies (15 at the Kozatsky Hotel, 12 at the Ukraine Hotel, 7 at the Central Post Office). In the early afternoon Kyiv Post journalists reported a further eight bodies on the streets of Khreshchatyk Street, in addition to the previous death toll. Dr. Olha Bohomolets, one of the physicians attending to 12 of the fatal gunshot victims at the Ukraine Hotel, said that the victims were shot with high-precision rifles and powerful ammunition that broke their bones. According to the coordinator of medical services on Maidan, Oleh Musiy, by of 5:30pm 70 protestors been killed, but that the figure could be as high as 100.

External links

• Four reported dead, more than 100 injured as violent clashes break out near Ukraine's parliament (live updates)
• Espreso TV: live coverage