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| Ukraine Police Storm Square in Deadliest Day of Uprising | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — Mayhem gripped the center of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday evening as riot police officers moved on protesters massed behind barriers raised throughout Independence Square, the focal point of more than two months of protests against President Viktor F. Yanukovych. | KIEV, Ukraine — Mayhem gripped the center of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday evening as riot police officers moved on protesters massed behind barriers raised throughout Independence Square, the focal point of more than two months of protests against President Viktor F. Yanukovych. |
| As the attack began just before 8 p.m. local time, the police tried to drive two armored personnel carriers through stone-reinforced barriers outside the Khreschatyk Hotel in the square. But they became bogged down and, set upon by protesters wielding rocks and fireworks, burst into flames, apparently trapping the security officers inside and prompting desperate rescue efforts from their colleagues. | As the attack began just before 8 p.m. local time, the police tried to drive two armored personnel carriers through stone-reinforced barriers outside the Khreschatyk Hotel in the square. But they became bogged down and, set upon by protesters wielding rocks and fireworks, burst into flames, apparently trapping the security officers inside and prompting desperate rescue efforts from their colleagues. |
| In a wild day of parries and thrusts by the protesters and the police, the authorities in Kiev reported 13 people killed, including two police officers, while protesters accused the police of using live ammunition. It was the bloodiest day of violence since President Yanukovych spurned a trade deal with Europe in November and set of protests that began peacefully but have since involved occasional outbursts of deadly violence. | In a wild day of parries and thrusts by the protesters and the police, the authorities in Kiev reported 13 people killed, including two police officers, while protesters accused the police of using live ammunition. It was the bloodiest day of violence since President Yanukovych spurned a trade deal with Europe in November and set of protests that began peacefully but have since involved occasional outbursts of deadly violence. |
| The push into Independence Square by anti-riot forces spread chaos and fire across the protest zone, with tents ablaze as police advanced through clouds of smoke and tear-gas. The 20,000 or so protesters sang the national anthem against the din of percussion grenades, fireworks and what, on occasion, sounded like gunfire. | The push into Independence Square by anti-riot forces spread chaos and fire across the protest zone, with tents ablaze as police advanced through clouds of smoke and tear-gas. The 20,000 or so protesters sang the national anthem against the din of percussion grenades, fireworks and what, on occasion, sounded like gunfire. |
| A phalanx of riot police officers, backed by a water cannon, pushed through protesters’ barricades near the Ukraina Hotel and fired tear gas as they advanced toward the center of the square. People covered in blood staggered to a medical center set up in the protest encampment. | A phalanx of riot police officers, backed by a water cannon, pushed through protesters’ barricades near the Ukraina Hotel and fired tear gas as they advanced toward the center of the square. People covered in blood staggered to a medical center set up in the protest encampment. |
| In the late evening, a group of several hundred riot police officers finally overpowered protesters at the barricades near the Khreshatyk Hotel and, banging their shields, began to move towards the center of the protester’s encampment on Independence Square. Another phalanx that had earlier penetrated the area, pushing down Instituts’ka Street past the Ukraina Hotel, was stalled by a wall of flaming rubber tires. | In the late evening, a group of several hundred riot police officers finally overpowered protesters at the barricades near the Khreshatyk Hotel and, banging their shields, began to move towards the center of the protester’s encampment on Independence Square. Another phalanx that had earlier penetrated the area, pushing down Instituts’ka Street past the Ukraina Hotel, was stalled by a wall of flaming rubber tires. |
| With visibility sharply reduced to just a few yards by thick clouds of acrid smoke, it was often difficult to determine who was firing what at whom. Music blared from a stage set up by protesters who, although boxed in all sides, showed little sign of dispersing. | With visibility sharply reduced to just a few yards by thick clouds of acrid smoke, it was often difficult to determine who was firing what at whom. Music blared from a stage set up by protesters who, although boxed in all sides, showed little sign of dispersing. |
| At an improvised medical center on the fourth floor of the Trade Union Building on Independence Square, scores of the wounded were brought in for treatment. Many had lacerated legs, apparently from the impact of percussion grenades that explode at ground level and spray a shower of plastic shrapnel. | At an improvised medical center on the fourth floor of the Trade Union Building on Independence Square, scores of the wounded were brought in for treatment. Many had lacerated legs, apparently from the impact of percussion grenades that explode at ground level and spray a shower of plastic shrapnel. |
| Andriy Huk, deputy head of the protester’s medical center, said he had seen one person with gunshot wounds to the stomach. | Andriy Huk, deputy head of the protester’s medical center, said he had seen one person with gunshot wounds to the stomach. |
| Volodomyr Pogorily, another doctor at the medical center, said he had removed five bullets from wounded protesters. Many of the injuries treated at the makeshift medical center were from percussion grenades, which create a deafening noise but are not meant to be lethal or cause serious injury. But a nurse said the wounds she had treated during the day suggested that the grenades had been wrapped in tape with nails and stones to make them more dangerous. | Volodomyr Pogorily, another doctor at the medical center, said he had removed five bullets from wounded protesters. Many of the injuries treated at the makeshift medical center were from percussion grenades, which create a deafening noise but are not meant to be lethal or cause serious injury. But a nurse said the wounds she had treated during the day suggested that the grenades had been wrapped in tape with nails and stones to make them more dangerous. |
| Yevgeny Avramchuk, a protester who was treated at the center, said doctors had removed a pebble from a hole in his calf. “It hurt, yes it hurt. It felt like my shin was hit with a hammer,” he said of his injury. Another person was evacuated in an ambulance with a chest puncture wound. Throughout the evening, doctors rushed along a corridor lined with a filthy carpet and littered with bloody bandages, removing projectiles from wounded people slumped in the hallway. | Yevgeny Avramchuk, a protester who was treated at the center, said doctors had removed a pebble from a hole in his calf. “It hurt, yes it hurt. It felt like my shin was hit with a hammer,” he said of his injury. Another person was evacuated in an ambulance with a chest puncture wound. Throughout the evening, doctors rushed along a corridor lined with a filthy carpet and littered with bloody bandages, removing projectiles from wounded people slumped in the hallway. |
| Panic spread through patients and medical staff when smoke poured into the treatment area and it seemed that the building, occupied for more than two months by protesters, had been set on fire. But the smoke turned out to have come from the nearby offices of Right Sector, a coalition of right-wing militant groups whose members had started burning documents. | Panic spread through patients and medical staff when smoke poured into the treatment area and it seemed that the building, occupied for more than two months by protesters, had been set on fire. But the smoke turned out to have come from the nearby offices of Right Sector, a coalition of right-wing militant groups whose members had started burning documents. |
| The struggle was particularly intense near the barricades outside the Khreshatkyk Hotel, where police lost the two armored vehicles. Engulfed in thick clouds of smoke, police fired stun grenades while protesters responded with volleys of rocks and fireworks. | The struggle was particularly intense near the barricades outside the Khreshatkyk Hotel, where police lost the two armored vehicles. Engulfed in thick clouds of smoke, police fired stun grenades while protesters responded with volleys of rocks and fireworks. |
| Protesters holding out in Independence Square continued to scream defiance but a powerful loudspeaker system that had filled the center of Kiev for weeks with the sound of protest songs and speeches went down. | Protesters holding out in Independence Square continued to scream defiance but a powerful loudspeaker system that had filled the center of Kiev for weeks with the sound of protest songs and speeches went down. |
| Before the sound system failed, Arseniy Yatseniuk, a prominent opposition leader, delivered what could be the final speech from the stage in Independence Square, at least for a time. | Before the sound system failed, Arseniy Yatseniuk, a prominent opposition leader, delivered what could be the final speech from the stage in Independence Square, at least for a time. |
| “We see that this regime started shooting at people again. They want to drown Ukraine in blood,” he shouted. “We won’t react on a single one of their provocations. But we won’t make any single step back from here, from this Maidan.” | “We see that this regime started shooting at people again. They want to drown Ukraine in blood,” he shouted. “We won’t react on a single one of their provocations. But we won’t make any single step back from here, from this Maidan.” |
| Earlier in the day, enraged protesters reoccupied City Hall, which they had vacated two days earlier, and the authorities shut the Kiev subway to thwart opposition calls for reinforcements to defend their encampment. | Earlier in the day, enraged protesters reoccupied City Hall, which they had vacated two days earlier, and the authorities shut the Kiev subway to thwart opposition calls for reinforcements to defend their encampment. |
| The police advance followed hours of street battles that destroyed hopes of an early political settlement, stirred in recent days by an amnesty deal. The resumption of violence underscored the volatility of a political crisis that has not only aroused fear of civil war in Ukraine but has also dragged Russia and the West into a geopolitical struggle redolent of the Cold War. | The police advance followed hours of street battles that destroyed hopes of an early political settlement, stirred in recent days by an amnesty deal. The resumption of violence underscored the volatility of a political crisis that has not only aroused fear of civil war in Ukraine but has also dragged Russia and the West into a geopolitical struggle redolent of the Cold War. |
| The violence began early on Tuesday when antigovernment activists moved out of their barricaded zone around Independence Square and advanced into a government-controlled district, battling riot police officers with stones and Molotov cocktails in the worst clashes in nearly a month. A group of young militants occupied and set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Party of Regions. | The violence began early on Tuesday when antigovernment activists moved out of their barricaded zone around Independence Square and advanced into a government-controlled district, battling riot police officers with stones and Molotov cocktails in the worst clashes in nearly a month. A group of young militants occupied and set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Party of Regions. |
| “We have no other way,” said Lena Melniko, a 33-year-old accountant who joined a team of protesters digging up paving stones and passing them on to helmeted fighters to throw at police, “We have been protesting for three months but are stuck in dead end,” she added, seemingly oblivious to the deafening din of percussion grenades fired by police. | “We have no other way,” said Lena Melniko, a 33-year-old accountant who joined a team of protesters digging up paving stones and passing them on to helmeted fighters to throw at police, “We have been protesting for three months but are stuck in dead end,” she added, seemingly oblivious to the deafening din of percussion grenades fired by police. |
| Much of the violence early Tuesday took place along Instyuts’ka Street near Ukraine’s Parliament building and the main offices of the government. Protesters hurled stones at police officers sheltering behind a barricade of blazing vehicles while ambulances, sirens wailing, rushed to help people injured in the clashes. | Much of the violence early Tuesday took place along Instyuts’ka Street near Ukraine’s Parliament building and the main offices of the government. Protesters hurled stones at police officers sheltering behind a barricade of blazing vehicles while ambulances, sirens wailing, rushed to help people injured in the clashes. |
| Some demonstrators carried firearms, too, though it was unclear whether they had used them. On Instyuts’ka Street, a crowd pulled a man from a parked car after discovering a rifle in the car’s trunk. As he was jostled by the crowd, the man objected he had came to “fight for freedom,” indicating he was on the side of protesters. He was allowed to drive away with the rifle. | Some demonstrators carried firearms, too, though it was unclear whether they had used them. On Instyuts’ka Street, a crowd pulled a man from a parked car after discovering a rifle in the car’s trunk. As he was jostled by the crowd, the man objected he had came to “fight for freedom,” indicating he was on the side of protesters. He was allowed to drive away with the rifle. |
| After first allowing demonstrators to mill about, riot police officers cleared them early in the afternoon in a series of charges, firing plastic and rubber munitions from shotguns. People ran, but at times also formed lines to fight, throwing stones and beer and vodka bottles filled with gasoline. At first, the gunshots were scattered but then they erupted in a staccato. Rubber bullets ricocheted off utility poles. At least a dozen people hobbled away, bleeding from head and leg wounds. | After first allowing demonstrators to mill about, riot police officers cleared them early in the afternoon in a series of charges, firing plastic and rubber munitions from shotguns. People ran, but at times also formed lines to fight, throwing stones and beer and vodka bottles filled with gasoline. At first, the gunshots were scattered but then they erupted in a staccato. Rubber bullets ricocheted off utility poles. At least a dozen people hobbled away, bleeding from head and leg wounds. |
| Young men in jeans wearing medical masks and carrying pipes and baseball bats were apparently assisting the police, mingling in their ranks. Elderly women clustered on the sidewalk, heedless of the explosions and gunshots, and heckled the police, yelling, “Killers!,” and “Shoot us! Just shoot us, kill us, kill us, you bastards!” | Young men in jeans wearing medical masks and carrying pipes and baseball bats were apparently assisting the police, mingling in their ranks. Elderly women clustered on the sidewalk, heedless of the explosions and gunshots, and heckled the police, yelling, “Killers!,” and “Shoot us! Just shoot us, kill us, kill us, you bastards!” |
| Opposition leaders appealed to protesters to stand firm in a series of defiant speeches from the stage in Independence Square, known as Maidan. “We will come out of Maidan either free or slaves. But we don’t want to be slaves,” said Serhiy Sobolev, member of parliament from the Batkivshchyna Party. | Opposition leaders appealed to protesters to stand firm in a series of defiant speeches from the stage in Independence Square, known as Maidan. “We will come out of Maidan either free or slaves. But we don’t want to be slaves,” said Serhiy Sobolev, member of parliament from the Batkivshchyna Party. |
| Petro Poroshenko, a wealthy opposition member of Parliament whose television station has been broadcasting the protests, called for discipline and defiance. | Petro Poroshenko, a wealthy opposition member of Parliament whose television station has been broadcasting the protests, called for discipline and defiance. |
| “We are here not simply protecting Maidan, we are here protecting Ukraine. We are not simply staying here for the future of Kiev. We are standing for the unity of Ukraine. We are standing for the integrity of Ukraine,” Mr. Poroshenko said, urging residents to converge on the square to show their support. | “We are here not simply protecting Maidan, we are here protecting Ukraine. We are not simply staying here for the future of Kiev. We are standing for the unity of Ukraine. We are standing for the integrity of Ukraine,” Mr. Poroshenko said, urging residents to converge on the square to show their support. |
| Viktor Pinchuk, a wealthy steel magnate and one of Ukraine’s most prominent so-called oligarchs, issued a plaintive plea that all sides “refrain from the use of force and find a compromise.” Ukraine, he added, has “since its independence avoided bloodshed. We must return to this tradition immediately.” | Viktor Pinchuk, a wealthy steel magnate and one of Ukraine’s most prominent so-called oligarchs, issued a plaintive plea that all sides “refrain from the use of force and find a compromise.” Ukraine, he added, has “since its independence avoided bloodshed. We must return to this tradition immediately.” |
| Like other oligarchs who have mostly tried to hedge their bets throughout more than two months of tumult, Mr. Pinchuk avoided backing either the government’s push to take back Independence Square or the protesters trying to hang on to it. | Like other oligarchs who have mostly tried to hedge their bets throughout more than two months of tumult, Mr. Pinchuk avoided backing either the government’s push to take back Independence Square or the protesters trying to hang on to it. |
| The fighting broke out a day after Russia threw a new financial lifeline to Mr. Yanukovych’s government by buying $2 billion in Ukrainian government bonds. | The fighting broke out a day after Russia threw a new financial lifeline to Mr. Yanukovych’s government by buying $2 billion in Ukrainian government bonds. |
| The Russian aid signaled confidence from the Kremlin that important votes in Parliament expected this week to amend the Constitution and form a new cabinet will go in Russia’s favor. It also highlighted the absence of any clear promise of financial aid from the European Union or the United States, which have supported the opposition in Ukraine. | The Russian aid signaled confidence from the Kremlin that important votes in Parliament expected this week to amend the Constitution and form a new cabinet will go in Russia’s favor. It also highlighted the absence of any clear promise of financial aid from the European Union or the United States, which have supported the opposition in Ukraine. |
| Mr. Yanukovych negotiated a $15 billion loan with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in December, and Ukraine received a first segment of this soon afterward when Russia purchased Ukrainian bonds worth $3 billion. But Russia suspended further payments last month after violent clashes broke out in Kiev and the pro-Russian prime minister resigned. | Mr. Yanukovych negotiated a $15 billion loan with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in December, and Ukraine received a first segment of this soon afterward when Russia purchased Ukrainian bonds worth $3 billion. But Russia suspended further payments last month after violent clashes broke out in Kiev and the pro-Russian prime minister resigned. |