This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/despite-truce-some-fighting-reported-in-kiev/2014/02/20/71b5025e-99bd-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html?wprss=rss_world
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Despite truce, more fighting reported in Kiev | Despite truce, more fighting reported in Kiev |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — Hours after a truce was declared between government forces and opposition protesters, fighting broke out once again Thursday morning in the streets around Independence Square. | KIEV, Ukraine — Hours after a truce was declared between government forces and opposition protesters, fighting broke out once again Thursday morning in the streets around Independence Square. |
| Police and demonstrators traded molotov cocktails, and gunshots could be heard. On the hill south of the square, the parliament and cabinet buildings were evacuated. An Associated Press report said 18 bodies were laid out on the edge of the protest encampment. Interior Ministry spokeman Serhiy Burlakov told the AP one policeman was killed and 28 suffered gunshot wounds on Thursday. | |
| The Kyiv Post reported that about 50 interior ministry troops had been captured by demonstrators, and were taken to the post office, which the opposition controls. | The Kyiv Post reported that about 50 interior ministry troops had been captured by demonstrators, and were taken to the post office, which the opposition controls. |
| Throughout the morning, the fighting fell short of developing into a full-scale battle. | Throughout the morning, the fighting fell short of developing into a full-scale battle. |
| The truce reached late Wednesday night, between President Viktor Yanukovych and the three main opposition political leaders, hasn’t been formally renounced — but the fighting demonstrated how neither side appears to have control over its armed contingents. | The truce reached late Wednesday night, between President Viktor Yanukovych and the three main opposition political leaders, hasn’t been formally renounced — but the fighting demonstrated how neither side appears to have control over its armed contingents. |
| The development came as U.S. and European leaders condemned the violence and the United States said it was imposing visa sanctions on 20 Ukrainian officials. Russia, meanwhile, condemned the opposition. | The development came as U.S. and European leaders condemned the violence and the United States said it was imposing visa sanctions on 20 Ukrainian officials. Russia, meanwhile, condemned the opposition. |
| The pressure on Ukraine — internal and external — has only increased, and the two sides are so far apart that reconciliation appears impossible. They are now faced with the challenge of getting the country back on track even without reconciling politically. | The pressure on Ukraine — internal and external — has only increased, and the two sides are so far apart that reconciliation appears impossible. They are now faced with the challenge of getting the country back on track even without reconciling politically. |
| [Watch live video from Kiev] | [Watch live video from Kiev] |
| The hostility between Yanukovych and the political opposition is deep and intense, and now has been paid for in blood. Regional differences are flaring, with governors in the east near the Russian border denouncing the protesters and demanding a crackdown, while in the west, cities are declaring virtual autonomy from the central government. Opposition leaders, for their part, are leading a movement that includes hard-line militants who are not keen on political compromise. | The hostility between Yanukovych and the political opposition is deep and intense, and now has been paid for in blood. Regional differences are flaring, with governors in the east near the Russian border denouncing the protesters and demanding a crackdown, while in the west, cities are declaring virtual autonomy from the central government. Opposition leaders, for their part, are leading a movement that includes hard-line militants who are not keen on political compromise. |
| Abroad, the Western nations and Russia blamed each other for supporting one of the two sides in Ukraine’s long-running political crisis. | Abroad, the Western nations and Russia blamed each other for supporting one of the two sides in Ukraine’s long-running political crisis. |
| The country, which has experienced regular bouts of political turmoil since the downfall of the Soviet Union two decades ago — but never the sort of violence seen Tuesday — appears to be at a point of fracture. | The country, which has experienced regular bouts of political turmoil since the downfall of the Soviet Union two decades ago — but never the sort of violence seen Tuesday — appears to be at a point of fracture. |
| That may now be extending to the government itself. | That may now be extending to the government itself. |
| As fires continued to burn Wednesday on the Maidan, or Independence Square, forming a buffer of flame and thick greasy smoke between protesters and police, the state security service announced that it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation.” A little while later, the Defense Ministry said it might join in. | As fires continued to burn Wednesday on the Maidan, or Independence Square, forming a buffer of flame and thick greasy smoke between protesters and police, the state security service announced that it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation.” A little while later, the Defense Ministry said it might join in. |
| It appeared as though a serious escalation was in the works. But then Yanukovych fired his chief military commander Wednesday evening. | It appeared as though a serious escalation was in the works. But then Yanukovych fired his chief military commander Wednesday evening. |
| Col. Gen. Volodymyr Zamana was quoted a month ago as saying that the armed forces should never be used against Ukrainian civilians, and this may have been the reason for his ouster. | Col. Gen. Volodymyr Zamana was quoted a month ago as saying that the armed forces should never be used against Ukrainian civilians, and this may have been the reason for his ouster. |
| The Ukrainian army is not as well-funded or powerful a force as the Interior Ministry. Nonetheless, it wields heavy weaponry that the opposition fears may come into play. | The Ukrainian army is not as well-funded or powerful a force as the Interior Ministry. Nonetheless, it wields heavy weaponry that the opposition fears may come into play. |
| U.S. military leaders have been unable for the past several days to reach their Ukrainian counterparts to warn them against getting involved in the crisis, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday night, and this is a matter of some concern. | U.S. military leaders have been unable for the past several days to reach their Ukrainian counterparts to warn them against getting involved in the crisis, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday night, and this is a matter of some concern. |
| Ukraine’s military has joined with NATO in Iraq and Afghanistan and has particularly close relations with the Polish military. But Poland has been Yanukovych’s most vocal critic, and that may leave him uncertain of his own army’s loyalty in a fight portrayed as East vs. West. | Ukraine’s military has joined with NATO in Iraq and Afghanistan and has particularly close relations with the Polish military. But Poland has been Yanukovych’s most vocal critic, and that may leave him uncertain of his own army’s loyalty in a fight portrayed as East vs. West. |
| Later in the evening, the security service said that although it was making preparations for an anti-terrorist operation, it had not put one into effect, according to the Interfax news agency. | Later in the evening, the security service said that although it was making preparations for an anti-terrorist operation, it had not put one into effect, according to the Interfax news agency. |
| All this has left Ukrainians wondering whether a crackdown is coming and, if so, how effective it might be given the conflicting pressures on the beleaguered country. | All this has left Ukrainians wondering whether a crackdown is coming and, if so, how effective it might be given the conflicting pressures on the beleaguered country. |
| Small but violent protests Wednesday left several people wounded and one reported dead in the Black Sea port of Odessa and in the western city of Khmelnytskyy. | Small but violent protests Wednesday left several people wounded and one reported dead in the Black Sea port of Odessa and in the western city of Khmelnytskyy. |
| In the east — in Donetsk, Yanukovych’s home town, and Kharkov — governors talked tough about defeating the protests. | In the east — in Donetsk, Yanukovych’s home town, and Kharkov — governors talked tough about defeating the protests. |
| But the city of Lviv in western Ukraine effectively declared itself autonomous of the central government. In nearby Ivano-Frankivsk, the local commander of the security forces pledged not to carry out or give any illegal orders. | But the city of Lviv in western Ukraine effectively declared itself autonomous of the central government. In nearby Ivano-Frankivsk, the local commander of the security forces pledged not to carry out or give any illegal orders. |
| Obama warns both sides | Obama warns both sides |
| The Russian Foreign Ministry, which backs Yanukovych, said Tuesday’s violence was an attempted coup by the opposition, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Western countries to use their influence with the opposition to force it into negotiations with the government. | The Russian Foreign Ministry, which backs Yanukovych, said Tuesday’s violence was an attempted coup by the opposition, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Western countries to use their influence with the opposition to force it into negotiations with the government. |
| The White House and the European Union strongly criticized Yanukovych earlier Wednesday, blaming him for the violence. | The White House and the European Union strongly criticized Yanukovych earlier Wednesday, blaming him for the violence. |
| President Obama had warnings for both Yanukovych and protest leaders. | President Obama had warnings for both Yanukovych and protest leaders. |
| “I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we’re going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters,” Obama said. “We’ve also said we expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful, and we’ll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognizing that with our European partners and the international community there will be consequences if people step over the line.” | “I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we’re going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters,” Obama said. “We’ve also said we expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful, and we’ll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognizing that with our European partners and the international community there will be consequences if people step over the line.” |
| E.U. Commission President José Manuel Barroso expressed “shock and utter dismay” Wednesday over the “violence and use of excessive force,” which he blamed on Ukraine’s “political leadership.” He said he expects the E.U. to agree on “targeted measures against those responsible.” | E.U. Commission President José Manuel Barroso expressed “shock and utter dismay” Wednesday over the “violence and use of excessive force,” which he blamed on Ukraine’s “political leadership.” He said he expects the E.U. to agree on “targeted measures against those responsible.” |
| The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said Yanukovych “has blood on his hands.” | The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said Yanukovych “has blood on his hands.” |
| Bildt said Ukraine would have been on its way to a better future by now, with a trade agreement with the E.U., were it not for threats from Moscow. | Bildt said Ukraine would have been on its way to a better future by now, with a trade agreement with the E.U., were it not for threats from Moscow. |
| The foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France intend to travel here Thursday to hold talks about the crisis and then to Brussels for an E.U. meeting to consider targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials. | The foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France intend to travel here Thursday to hold talks about the crisis and then to Brussels for an E.U. meeting to consider targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials. |
| Authorities said that 800 people have been injured, and that of the 26 killed, 10 were Interior Ministry troops. | Authorities said that 800 people have been injured, and that of the 26 killed, 10 were Interior Ministry troops. |
| [READ: Could this become civil war?] | [READ: Could this become civil war?] |
| There have been guarded expressions of unease within the ruling Party of Regions over the violence. Ukraine is without a prime minister a month after Mykola Azarov was forced from office. Rinat Akhmetov, an oligarch once very close to Yanukovych, has called for an end to violence by both sides. | There have been guarded expressions of unease within the ruling Party of Regions over the violence. Ukraine is without a prime minister a month after Mykola Azarov was forced from office. Rinat Akhmetov, an oligarch once very close to Yanukovych, has called for an end to violence by both sides. |
| If an “anti-terrorist” campaign begins, it is not clear what it will entail or how effectively it can be carried out. Government officials say hard-line protesters have stolen 1,500 firearms during the three months of demonstrations and have used them against police. | If an “anti-terrorist” campaign begins, it is not clear what it will entail or how effectively it can be carried out. Government officials say hard-line protesters have stolen 1,500 firearms during the three months of demonstrations and have used them against police. |
| A special operation would presumably give the security service the authority to seize people and property without court orders for a specified period. | A special operation would presumably give the security service the authority to seize people and property without court orders for a specified period. |
| Vice President Biden has warned Yanukovych several times — most recently on Tuesday — against declaring a state of emergency. | Vice President Biden has warned Yanukovych several times — most recently on Tuesday — against declaring a state of emergency. |
| Max Fisher breaks down the deadliest clashes in Kiev's Independence Square since protests began three months ago. | |
| (/) | |
| The Defense Ministry denied that armored units were moving to Kiev. Paratroop battalions have been deployed to guard Defense Ministry sites, but not to take part in an attack on protesters, officials said. | The Defense Ministry denied that armored units were moving to Kiev. Paratroop battalions have been deployed to guard Defense Ministry sites, but not to take part in an attack on protesters, officials said. |
| Focus on rightists | Focus on rightists |
| Yanukovych, echoing the Russians, has said that the top political leaders of the opposition must disassociate themselves from the right-wingers among the protesters who have done most of the fighting with police. | Yanukovych, echoing the Russians, has said that the top political leaders of the opposition must disassociate themselves from the right-wingers among the protesters who have done most of the fighting with police. |
| Helmeted young militants of the group that calls itself Pravy Sektor have without question complicated the role of more moderate political leaders and, in important ways, have helped set the opposition agenda. Opposition politicians have been careful not to have a falling-out with their most committed wing. | Helmeted young militants of the group that calls itself Pravy Sektor have without question complicated the role of more moderate political leaders and, in important ways, have helped set the opposition agenda. Opposition politicians have been careful not to have a falling-out with their most committed wing. |
| In a joint statement, the three main opposition parties said they were not responsible for Tuesday’s deadly violence. | In a joint statement, the three main opposition parties said they were not responsible for Tuesday’s deadly violence. |
| “We have never called and never will call people to pick up arms,” it said. “This is our principled stance. The death of any person is a personal tragedy for each one of us.” | “We have never called and never will call people to pick up arms,” it said. “This is our principled stance. The death of any person is a personal tragedy for each one of us.” |