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In Ukraine, protesters appear to be preparing for battle | In Ukraine, protesters appear to be preparing for battle |
(about 4 hours later) | |
KIEV, Ukraine — After a night of street clashes, Ukraine moved further toward a showdown Monday as young men with steel rods and a willingness to use them against riot police seized the initiative from the cautious politicians at the helm of the protest movement. | |
Overnight, the focus of the protests against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych had switched from the well-barricaded Independence Square to the unprotected space of Grushevsky Street, where it begins its steep ascent toward the parliament building. | Overnight, the focus of the protests against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych had switched from the well-barricaded Independence Square to the unprotected space of Grushevsky Street, where it begins its steep ascent toward the parliament building. |
The scene at the front line suggested that neither side was in a mood to give in. Long lines of police snaked across the sloping street, behind solid walls of shields. The protesters were clearly preparing for battle, having survived and persevered through the first night of physical confrontation since an aborted attempt by police to sweep into Independence Square more than a month ago. | |
The nighttime fighting that raged into the early hours of Monday had been accompanied by fireworks and flash grenades, stone-throwing by protesters and forays by club-swinging police. | |
Television reports Monday morning showed police firing rubber bullets at protesters. One broadcast showed a man preparing a molotov cocktail, apparently to throw at police. Several burned-out police vans were coated with ice from water cannon blasts, accentuating the desolation of the scene. | Television reports Monday morning showed police firing rubber bullets at protesters. One broadcast showed a man preparing a molotov cocktail, apparently to throw at police. Several burned-out police vans were coated with ice from water cannon blasts, accentuating the desolation of the scene. |
The Interior Ministry said several dozen troops had been injured in the clashes overnight. Protesters said 30 to 40 on their side had been hurt. | The Interior Ministry said several dozen troops had been injured in the clashes overnight. Protesters said 30 to 40 on their side had been hurt. |
On a broad street before a row of burned-out buses, protesters were busily digging up paving stones so they’d be on hand. Others banged ceaselessly with sticks on pieces of sheet metal or with hammers on street signs. The percussive ring filled the smoky air in front of Dynamo Stadium. | |
By Monday afternoon, the skirmishing had begun again. Police formed a solid line about 20 yards behind the row of buses that had been put in place as a barricade. The protesters formed a much more ragged line on their side, also about 20 yards back. | |
Daredevils would run toward the buses, throwing paving stones at the police. Whenever the crowd seemed to be inching up behind them, the police would toss stun grenades and tear gas and move them back. | Daredevils would run toward the buses, throwing paving stones at the police. Whenever the crowd seemed to be inching up behind them, the police would toss stun grenades and tear gas and move them back. |
At one point, Interior Ministry troops also moved toward the buses and, surprisingly, began throwing stones back at the protesters, though not very effectively. | |
One group of protesters, meanwhile, was furiously constructing a catapult about eight feet high for later use. | One group of protesters, meanwhile, was furiously constructing a catapult about eight feet high for later use. |
Yanukovych has appointed a committee to try to find a solution to Ukraine’s crisis, and he told its members to meet Monday with the leaders of opposition parties, who were dismayed by the violent turn of events. | |
Yanukovych’s Party of Regions posted a statement overnight blaming the fighting on Western intelligence services, which it said had provided intensive training to the protesters. Two journalists were reported among the injured, one from the U.S.-supported Radio Liberty and one from broadcaster Vesti. Ukrainian officials also said they had taken another Radio Liberty journalist into custody. The Radio Liberty videographer, identified as Ihor Iskhakov, was later released, reportedly with a broken nose, a possible concussion and numerous bruises. | |
In Washington, Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for the National Security Council, criticized the government over the weekend for provoking the protesters, particularly with the passage last week of harsh laws restricting freedom of speech and assembly. | |
The protests began in November, after Yanukovych refused to sign a long-planned trade agreement with the European Union. Instead, he sought a closer relationship and loans from Russia. That angered the Ukrainians who wanted a closer alignment with Europe and accused Yanukovych of falling under Russia’s sway. | The protests began in November, after Yanukovych refused to sign a long-planned trade agreement with the European Union. Instead, he sought a closer relationship and loans from Russia. That angered the Ukrainians who wanted a closer alignment with Europe and accused Yanukovych of falling under Russia’s sway. |
Russian officials counter that the United States is stirring up trouble, manipulating Ukrainians. | Russian officials counter that the United States is stirring up trouble, manipulating Ukrainians. |
On Monday that theme was amplified by Leonid Slutsky, the head of Russia’s parliamentary committee on Eurasian integration, who accused “strategic friends” from the West of inflaming events in Ukraine. | On Monday that theme was amplified by Leonid Slutsky, the head of Russia’s parliamentary committee on Eurasian integration, who accused “strategic friends” from the West of inflaming events in Ukraine. |
“They finance them via various non-governmental organizations, which start problems that escalate into disturbances and violence not in line with civilized European ideas, to which Ukraine is being persistently urged,” Slutsky said as quoted by the Interfax news agency. | “They finance them via various non-governmental organizations, which start problems that escalate into disturbances and violence not in line with civilized European ideas, to which Ukraine is being persistently urged,” Slutsky said as quoted by the Interfax news agency. |
E.U. officials have expressed concern about events in Ukraine, but some protesters are calling for more help. | E.U. officials have expressed concern about events in Ukraine, but some protesters are calling for more help. |
Monday on Twitter, an opposition-minded young woman named Kateryna Kruk put it this way: | Monday on Twitter, an opposition-minded young woman named Kateryna Kruk put it this way: |
“EU is deeply concerned. I’m sure this thought’ll warm me up while facing riot police or going to jail for tweeting. Then I’ll be concerned too.” | “EU is deeply concerned. I’m sure this thought’ll warm me up while facing riot police or going to jail for tweeting. Then I’ll be concerned too.” |
Kathy Lally contributed to this report from Moscow. | Kathy Lally contributed to this report from Moscow. |