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| Nine Dead as Mayhem Grips Ukrainian Capital | Nine Dead as Mayhem Grips Ukrainian Capital |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — Mayhem gripped the center of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday evening as riot police officers tried to drive two armored personnel carriers through stone-reinforced barriers in Independence Square, the focal point of more than two months of protests against President Viktor F. Yanukovych. | |
| Pelted by rocks and fireworks, the vehicles became stuck in the massive barricades outside the Khreschatyk Hotel and burst into flames, apparently trapping the security officers inside, prompting desperate rescue efforts from their colleagues. | |
| In the course of wild day of parries and thrusts by the protesters and the police, the authorities in Kiev reported nine people killed, including two police officers. 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 spasms 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. 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. | |
| 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 come 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. |
| News agencies quoted antigovernment activists as saying three protesters had been killed, but there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. Olga Bogomolets, a doctor, told the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper that three activists had died at a medical unit in the Officers’ House on Kriposniy Lane. She said that they had died from gunshot wounds to the head and heart and that tens of other people had suffered injuries. | News agencies quoted antigovernment activists as saying three protesters had been killed, but there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. Olga Bogomolets, a doctor, told the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper that three activists had died at a medical unit in the Officers’ House on Kriposniy Lane. She said that they had died from gunshot wounds to the head and heart and that tens of other people had suffered injuries. |
| Andriy Huk, deputy chief of the protest zone’s medical center, said there were five people were serious head wounds and seven who had lost an eye. He put the total of injured at 170. | Andriy Huk, deputy chief of the protest zone’s medical center, said there were five people were serious head wounds and seven who had lost an eye. He put the total of injured at 170. |
| Protesters reported that the police were using live ammunition, but this could not be confirmed. Cartridges scattered on the street suggested that most, if not all, of the firing from police lines involved rubber bullets. | Protesters reported that the police were using live ammunition, but this could not be confirmed. Cartridges scattered on the street suggested that most, if not all, of the firing from police lines involved rubber bullets. |
| 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!” |
| Protesters converted a kitchen into a first-aid center in one of the buildings occupied by demonstrators near Independence Square. One man lay on a stretcher, a goose-egg-size lump on his head, unconscious, his fingers twitching. Others were having cuts on their arms and heads bound. | Protesters converted a kitchen into a first-aid center in one of the buildings occupied by demonstrators near Independence Square. One man lay on a stretcher, a goose-egg-size lump on his head, unconscious, his fingers twitching. Others were having cuts on their arms and heads bound. |
| The main battle zone shifted in the afternoon to Hrushevsky Street, a soot-smeared cobblestone road leading up to Parliament, which reconvened on Tuesday for a session that the opposition had hoped would pave the way for a political settlement through constitutional amendments to trim the powers of President Yanukovych. But the opposition push in Parliament got nowhere, inflaming already feverish tempers on the street. | The main battle zone shifted in the afternoon to Hrushevsky Street, a soot-smeared cobblestone road leading up to Parliament, which reconvened on Tuesday for a session that the opposition had hoped would pave the way for a political settlement through constitutional amendments to trim the powers of President Yanukovych. But the opposition push in Parliament got nowhere, inflaming already feverish tempers on the street. |
| After violent clashes at barricades on Hrushevsky Street, the police broke through in the middle of the afternoon and surged toward Independence Square but halted just outside. “Kiev stand up! Kiev stand up!,” screamed a speaker on a stage in the square that, since late November, has been occupied by protesters. | After violent clashes at barricades on Hrushevsky Street, the police broke through in the middle of the afternoon and surged toward Independence Square but halted just outside. “Kiev stand up! Kiev stand up!,” screamed a speaker on a stage in the square that, since late November, has been occupied by protesters. |
| Hundreds of riot police officers, wearing helmets and carrying shields, assembled outside the Khreshatyk Hotel, just 100 yards or so from the center of Independence Square, and faced off with protesters across a no-go zone littered with rocks and flaming garbage. An armored car, its canon pointed toward the square, later took up position in the middle of the road outside the hotel along with a second military vehicle. | Hundreds of riot police officers, wearing helmets and carrying shields, assembled outside the Khreshatyk Hotel, just 100 yards or so from the center of Independence Square, and faced off with protesters across a no-go zone littered with rocks and flaming garbage. An armored car, its canon pointed toward the square, later took up position in the middle of the road outside the hotel along with a second military vehicle. |
| In a joint statement, the Interior Ministry and the Ukrainian security service said that if the disorder did not stop by 6 p.m. local time, “we will be obliged to restore order by all measures provided by the law.” The statement suggested a full-scale assault on Independence Square could be imminent. | In a joint statement, the Interior Ministry and the Ukrainian security service said that if the disorder did not stop by 6 p.m. local time, “we will be obliged to restore order by all measures provided by the law.” The statement suggested a full-scale assault on Independence Square could be imminent. |
| “Extremists from opposition have crossed the line” and bought chaos to the center of Kiev, said the statement. “We warn hot irresponsible heads of the opposition — the government has forces to restore order.” | “Extremists from opposition have crossed the line” and bought chaos to the center of Kiev, said the statement. “We warn hot irresponsible heads of the opposition — the government has forces to restore order.” |
| The 6 p.m. deadline passed with no sign of a push into Independence Square by Ukraine’s feared anti-riot force, known as Berkut. With the night sky darkened further by clouds of black smoke from burning rubber tires, police officers hammered their shields for several minutes as if Roman centurions preparing for battle. But they did not move forward. | The 6 p.m. deadline passed with no sign of a push into Independence Square by Ukraine’s feared anti-riot force, known as Berkut. With the night sky darkened further by clouds of black smoke from burning rubber tires, police officers hammered their shields for several minutes as if Roman centurions preparing for battle. But they did not move forward. |
| 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. |
| In an apparent effort to prevent this, authorities shut down the Kiev subway system. | In an apparent effort to prevent this, authorities shut down the Kiev subway system. |
| Oleksandr Ivanov, a retired Ukrainian diplomat, called the mayhem “a war between a dictator and the people.” | Oleksandr Ivanov, a retired Ukrainian diplomat, called the mayhem “a war between a dictator and the people.” |
| He said he was dismayed that Parliament had failed to vote on measures that would have sharply reduced the president’s powers. “There should have been a resolution,” he said. “But they did not even put it up for a vote.” | He said he was dismayed that Parliament had failed to vote on measures that would have sharply reduced the president’s powers. “There should have been a resolution,” he said. “But they did not even put it up for a vote.” |
| 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. |
| Russia’s finance minister announced the resumption of lending on Monday as two opposition leaders, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister, and Vitali Klitschko, a former boxing champion, met in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Russia had earlier frozen the aid because of political disarray in Kiev, the capital. | Russia’s finance minister announced the resumption of lending on Monday as two opposition leaders, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister, and Vitali Klitschko, a former boxing champion, met in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Russia had earlier frozen the aid because of political disarray in Kiev, the capital. |
| The sun had barely risen over Kiev on Tuesday morning when black smoke started wafting up again over barricades near the Parliament building as protesters set alight piles of tires. | The sun had barely risen over Kiev on Tuesday morning when black smoke started wafting up again over barricades near the Parliament building as protesters set alight piles of tires. |
| Demonstrators who on Sunday had cleared a gate in a symbolically important barricade and on Tuesday had vacated Kiev’s City Hall were again fighting with riot police officers on a back street near the Parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada. Local television reported an unspecified numbers of injuries. | Demonstrators who on Sunday had cleared a gate in a symbolically important barricade and on Tuesday had vacated Kiev’s City Hall were again fighting with riot police officers on a back street near the Parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada. Local television reported an unspecified numbers of injuries. |
| Inside, opposition members of Parliament stood in the rostrum to physically block voting. | Inside, opposition members of Parliament stood in the rostrum to physically block voting. |
| The speaker, who belongs to a pro-government party, had earlier declined to put to a vote the opposition’s proposal to amend the Constitution as a resolution to the nearly three-month standoff. The amendments would restore an earlier version of the Constitution and weaken the power of the president. | The speaker, who belongs to a pro-government party, had earlier declined to put to a vote the opposition’s proposal to amend the Constitution as a resolution to the nearly three-month standoff. The amendments would restore an earlier version of the Constitution and weaken the power of the president. |
| 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. |
| Germany, which on Monday hosted a visit to Berlin by two of President Yanuvoych’s most ardent opponents, called for all sides to seek a peaceful solution to the explosive political confrontation. | Germany, which on Monday hosted a visit to Berlin by two of President Yanuvoych’s most ardent opponents, called for all sides to seek a peaceful solution to the explosive political confrontation. |
| “A return to violence in Ukraine is certainly not a way to reach a settlement and a good future for the country,” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after speaking to his Ukrainian counterpart, Leonid Kozhara, by phone. | “A return to violence in Ukraine is certainly not a way to reach a settlement and a good future for the country,” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after speaking to his Ukrainian counterpart, Leonid Kozhara, by phone. |
| Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, anxious about foreign criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis, issued a statement that accused protesters of using firearms, mounting “armed attacks on government offices” and setting fire to buildings. | Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, anxious about foreign criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis, issued a statement that accused protesters of using firearms, mounting “armed attacks on government offices” and setting fire to buildings. |
| “We call on the Foreign States and International Organizations to be objective and unbiased in assessing the internal developments in Ukraine,” the statement said. “We also expect that they will strongly condemn the unlawful activities of the radical forces.” | “We call on the Foreign States and International Organizations to be objective and unbiased in assessing the internal developments in Ukraine,” the statement said. “We also expect that they will strongly condemn the unlawful activities of the radical forces.” |