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Ukrainian Protesters Struggle to Keep Police and Cold at Bay Ukrainian Protesters Struggle to Keep Police and Cold at Bay
(35 minutes later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Aleksandr Kvashenko looked up from making sandwiches in his tent encampment to realize that he had suddenly been encircled by hundreds of riot police officers. The camp’s usual contingent of burly men had sallied out to a nearby street as security forces began confronting protesters.KIEV, Ukraine — Aleksandr Kvashenko looked up from making sandwiches in his tent encampment to realize that he had suddenly been encircled by hundreds of riot police officers. The camp’s usual contingent of burly men had sallied out to a nearby street as security forces began confronting protesters.
“Well, they won’t arrest me because I’m just the cook,” Mr. Kvashenko said, though he sounded doubtful. The police had brought a backhoe that could easily have pried apart the tiny corral-like enclosure of wooden barricades. The episode was just one example of the seesaw struggle for control of important intersections and entrances to government buildings that was underway Monday evening in Kiev.“Well, they won’t arrest me because I’m just the cook,” Mr. Kvashenko said, though he sounded doubtful. The police had brought a backhoe that could easily have pried apart the tiny corral-like enclosure of wooden barricades. The episode was just one example of the seesaw struggle for control of important intersections and entrances to government buildings that was underway Monday evening in Kiev.
Protesters used the momentum of a large rally on Sunday to spread out from the central plaza that has been their base for antigovernment protests that are entering their third week. With security forces all but absent from the streets, a crowd toppled a statue of Lenin on Sunday evening. Others used the night to fortify half a dozen or so small outposts in a district of the capital dense with government buildings.Protesters used the momentum of a large rally on Sunday to spread out from the central plaza that has been their base for antigovernment protests that are entering their third week. With security forces all but absent from the streets, a crowd toppled a statue of Lenin on Sunday evening. Others used the night to fortify half a dozen or so small outposts in a district of the capital dense with government buildings.
Those camps were the ones surrounded and in some cases overrun as thousands of riot police officers descended. Thousands of protesters were also on the streets, but they could not be everywhere.Those camps were the ones surrounded and in some cases overrun as thousands of riot police officers descended. Thousands of protesters were also on the streets, but they could not be everywhere.
On a day when the initiative on the street seemed to shift from protesters to the police, the interaction between the two groups never went beyond shoving matches. The police were at times courteous, offering protesters their arms to walk on icy sidewalks. Yet the potential for violence always felt near.On a day when the initiative on the street seemed to shift from protesters to the police, the interaction between the two groups never went beyond shoving matches. The police were at times courteous, offering protesters their arms to walk on icy sidewalks. Yet the potential for violence always felt near.
Western leaders again called President Viktor F. Yanukovich on Monday to warn against using force to disperse the demonstrators.Western leaders again called President Viktor F. Yanukovich on Monday to warn against using force to disperse the demonstrators.
The tiny outpost on the corner of Shovkovichna and Bogomoltsa Streets where Mr. Kvashenko was cooking went up Sunday evening. Unlike most sites, it had a perimeter fence made from fresh lumber, rather than debris. UDAR, the political party of the champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, was running the camp.The tiny outpost on the corner of Shovkovichna and Bogomoltsa Streets where Mr. Kvashenko was cooking went up Sunday evening. Unlike most sites, it had a perimeter fence made from fresh lumber, rather than debris. UDAR, the political party of the champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, was running the camp.
Mr. Klitschko sat on a plastic chair by a fire burning in a drum for much of the evening before rushing out to confront the police bringing in the backhoe, and to negotiate with a police commander. The upshot was that the backhoe drove away and Mr. Klitschko’s companions came back to the camp.Mr. Klitschko sat on a plastic chair by a fire burning in a drum for much of the evening before rushing out to confront the police bringing in the backhoe, and to negotiate with a police commander. The upshot was that the backhoe drove away and Mr. Klitschko’s companions came back to the camp.
Earlier, Mr. Klitschko, the hood of his parka rimmed with frost from the snowstorm sweeping the streets, carried plastic cups filled with steaming chicken soup to the riot police who had surrounded his camp.Earlier, Mr. Klitschko, the hood of his parka rimmed with frost from the snowstorm sweeping the streets, carried plastic cups filled with steaming chicken soup to the riot police who had surrounded his camp.
When he returned, he removed a glove and held his hand over a fire, clenching and unclenching to warm it.When he returned, he removed a glove and held his hand over a fire, clenching and unclenching to warm it.
Mr. Klitschko said the small camps became necessary because the government had not reacted to the weeks of protests in the central square. “We want the president to hear our demands,” he said. “We want to free the innocent people in jail and punish those responsible for beating students, and we want the government to take responsibility for our failing political and economic conditions and resign.”Mr. Klitschko said the small camps became necessary because the government had not reacted to the weeks of protests in the central square. “We want the president to hear our demands,” he said. “We want to free the innocent people in jail and punish those responsible for beating students, and we want the government to take responsibility for our failing political and economic conditions and resign.”
Another tactic here was to smother the police with something like love, as expressed during the snowstorm. “We hug them, we bring them tea, we wipe off their helmets,” said Valentina Zagurskaya, a pensioner, describing the way she interacted with the line of heavily armored young men outside the camp.Another tactic here was to smother the police with something like love, as expressed during the snowstorm. “We hug them, we bring them tea, we wipe off their helmets,” said Valentina Zagurskaya, a pensioner, describing the way she interacted with the line of heavily armored young men outside the camp.
Through the evening, Mr. Kvashenko made soup in a gigantic kettle propped over a bonfire, sandwiches and endless cups of coffee and tea. Through the evening, Mr. Kvashenko made soup in a gigantic kettle propped over a bonfire, sandwiches, and endless cups of coffee and tea.
As the men filed back in from the face-off with the police, Mr. Kvashenko retrieved from a tent larder a half-gallon canning jar of raw bacon, pried off the lid with a knife and sliced the meat into squares. It was served on plastic plates. “Fat is energy, and energy is what we need,” he said.As the men filed back in from the face-off with the police, Mr. Kvashenko retrieved from a tent larder a half-gallon canning jar of raw bacon, pried off the lid with a knife and sliced the meat into squares. It was served on plastic plates. “Fat is energy, and energy is what we need,” he said.
One man returned shivering, stomping his feet and clapping his hands. “What do you want, black coffee, coffee with milk, or tea?” Mr. Kvashenko, asked. One man returned shivering, stomping his feet and clapping his hands. “What do you want, black coffee, coffee with milk, or tea?” Mr. Kvashenko asked.
“I really don’t care at all,” his customer said. “Just give me something warm because I’m freezing.”“I really don’t care at all,” his customer said. “Just give me something warm because I’m freezing.”