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Ukraine protesters force riot police from Kiev's Independence Square Ukraine violence: dozens killed as protesters clash with riot police
(about 1 hour later)
Dozens of people have been killed as central Kiev erupted into a battleground on Thursday , bands of young male protesters driving riot police back from Independence Square and taking control of a much larger swath of territory. Scores of people have been killed and many more injured in what has become the bloodiest day in modern Ukrainian history.
Shortly before 9am volleys of smoke and stun grenades as well as what sounded like automatic gunfire rang through Kiev as police initially sought to stem the offensive. Youths armed with axes, knives, truncheons and corrugated iron shields advanced on the police on a bridge behind the square that had been set alight. The violence started shortly before 9am when protesters armed with axes, knives, truncheons and corrugated iron shields advanced on to a bridge in the centre of the Ukranian capital and drove riot police back from Independence Square.
The common riot police lines dissolved as they were bussed away, to be replaced by "Berkut", or police special forces. Within an hour, the area surrounding the Ukrania hotel, which had been under the control of riot police, fell to the protesters. The riot police lines dissolved as they were bussed away to be replaced by the feared "Berkut" special forces. Kiev soon became a battleground.
At least 27 people have been killed in Thursday's violence, AFP has reported. An Associated Press reporter saw 21 bodies laid out on the edge of the sprawling protest encampment in central Kiev. One policeman was killed and 28 suffered gunshot wounds, spokesman Serhiy Burlakov told AP. Dozens of people – some injured, some dying and some dead – were dragged away on planks of wood or makeshift stretchers. Others were simply dragged along the ground on their backs, still under fire. The lobby of the hotel transformed into a blood-smeared makeshift medical centre. Some youths had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
A large area surrounding the Ukraina hotel, which an hour earlier had been under the control of riot police, fell to the young protesters. Dozens of wounded were dragged away on planks of wood, on makeshift stretchers, or dragged along the ground on their backs. The lobby of the hotel was turned into a blood-smeared makeshift medical centre. Some youths had what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the stomach. Agence France-Presse estimated at least 60 people have been killed. "More than 60 protesters died today. They all have gunshot wounds," a co-ordinator for opposition medics EuroMiadan Medical Centre told AFP.
With the death toll rising and the police using live rounds, the opposition is also turning more violent, with young nationalist radicals winning the upper hand and taking the fight to the authorities with vigour. On Thursday afternoon, Ukraine's acting interior minister, Vitaly Zakharchenko, issued a statement confirming that police had been armed with combat weapons.
In Tuesday's operations, riot police retook control of a large tract of the square for the first time, reducing the protest camp to damp smoking rubble and debris. But this morning's violent counteroffensive reversed those police gains and expanded, for the present, the area of central Kiev under the opposition. "I signed an order and police have been given combat weapons, which will be used in accordance with the law," Zakharchenko said in a statement published on the ministry website. He urged protestors to hand in their weapons and opposition leaders to condemn radical actions.
The escalation of violence, following the deaths of at least 26 on Tuesday in major clashes, coincided with the arrival in Kiev of the German, Polish, and French foreign ministers on a mediation mission which looked doomed to failure. Ahead of the EU mediation effort, President Viktor Yanukovych called a truce in the standoff, a ceasefire that lasted about 12 hours only for the clashes to escalate. An Associated Press reporter saw 21 bodies laid out on the edge of the sprawling protest encampment in central Kiev. One policeman was killed and 28 suffered gunshot wounds, spokesman Serhiy Burlakov told AP.
With the bloodshed still underway, the European Union prepared to impose sanctions on those responsible for the deadly violence and arms embargo on the country. These sanctions could be avoided if Viktor Yanukovich, the Ukrainian president, is prepared to bend towards the demands of the pro-European protestors.
"In light of the deteriorating situation, the EU [has decided] as a matter of urgency on targeted measures against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force," said a draft statement of the resolution obtained by Reuters.
"At the same time, member states [have decided] to implement an arms embargo and ban on equipment used for internal repression."
The text added that the EU was "appalled and deeply dismayed by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine."
"Any further escalation, including the introduction of a state of emergency, or the use of the armed forces against protestors must be avoided," it said.
William Hague, the British foreign secretary, described the killing of protesters in Kiev as "utterly unacceptable and indefensible" as he arrived for the EU meeting.
In Tuesday's operations, riot police retook control of a large tract of the square for the first time, reducing the protest camp to damp smoking rubble and debris. But Thursday morning's violent counteroffensive reversed those police gains and expanded, for the present, the area of central Kiev under the opposition.
The escalation of violence, following the deaths of at least 26 on Tuesday in major clashes, coincided with the arrival in Kiev of the German, Polish, and French foreign ministers on a mediation mission which looked doomed to failure.
Ahead of the EU mediation effort, Yanukovych called a truce in the standoff, a ceasefire that lasted about 12 hours only for the clashes to escalate.
Yanukovych's security service chiefs also announced they were launching a nationwide "anti-terrorist" campaign, though it was not clear what this meant or what it would entail.Yanukovych's security service chiefs also announced they were launching a nationwide "anti-terrorist" campaign, though it was not clear what this meant or what it would entail.
The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said on Thursday that Yanukovych should not be a "doormat", in what seemed the latest words from Moscow urging the authorities to crack down on the protests.The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said on Thursday that Yanukovych should not be a "doormat", in what seemed the latest words from Moscow urging the authorities to crack down on the protests.
"We need partners who are in good shape and for the authorities that work in Ukraine to be legitimate and effective, so that people don't wipe their feet on them like a doormat," said Medvedev in televised remarks."We need partners who are in good shape and for the authorities that work in Ukraine to be legitimate and effective, so that people don't wipe their feet on them like a doormat," said Medvedev in televised remarks.
A senior parliamentary official from the opposition nationalist Svoboda or Freedom party, Ruslan Koshulansky, said: "They're shooting people with Kalashnikovs."A senior parliamentary official from the opposition nationalist Svoboda or Freedom party, Ruslan Koshulansky, said: "They're shooting people with Kalashnikovs."
Svoboda figures prowled the upper floors of the hotel with pistols, saying they were looking for police snipers. Several snipers were seen behind sandbagged positions and on rooftops with automatic weapons.Svoboda figures prowled the upper floors of the hotel with pistols, saying they were looking for police snipers. Several snipers were seen behind sandbagged positions and on rooftops with automatic weapons.
Rioting youths set cars and lorries on fire and as the fires died down, they hacked the vehicles and hauled away the parts to erect new street barricades.Rioting youths set cars and lorries on fire and as the fires died down, they hacked the vehicles and hauled away the parts to erect new street barricades.
Konstantin, a Red Cross paramedic, said he had been working non-stop for 48 hours as he treated freshly wounded and sought to get ambulances to get the injured to hospitals. Konstantin, a Red Cross paramedic, said he had been working non-stop for 48 hours as he treated the wounded and sought to get ambulances to get the injured to hospitals.
The foreign ministers met opposition leaders and were also expected to see Yanukovych, a figure of hate for the protesters who have been occupying the central square for almost three months. It was not clear if the EU troika of foreign ministers would meet Yanukovych. The meeting could be cancelled "because of security reasons".
In the Olympic village in Sochi, Ukrainian athletes added black armbands to the Ukrainian flags hanging from their balconies, a day after the IOC told them they were not allowed to wear the armbands in competition.In the Olympic village in Sochi, Ukrainian athletes added black armbands to the Ukrainian flags hanging from their balconies, a day after the IOC told them they were not allowed to wear the armbands in competition.
Bogdana Matsotska, a Ukrainian skier, has left the Olympics in "solidarity" with Kiev's protesters. Bogdana's father said he and his daughter were both "extremely angry at President Yanukovych". Bogdana Matsotska, a Ukrainian skier, has left the Olympics in "solidarity" with Kiev's protesters. Bogdana's father said he and his daughter were both "extremely angry" Yanukovych.
The head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, told Interfax that if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a possibility of the region separating from Ukraine. Crimea, with its largely ethnic-Russian population, is staunchly pro-Moscow.The head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, told Interfax that if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a possibility of the region separating from Ukraine. Crimea, with its largely ethnic-Russian population, is staunchly pro-Moscow.
"It's possible, if the country collapses," said Konstantinov, on the possibility of secession. "Everything is heading in that direction.""It's possible, if the country collapses," said Konstantinov, on the possibility of secession. "Everything is heading in that direction."