Ukraine: violent clashes erupted in Kyiv during the Parliament protests left several people dead

Violent clashes in front of Parliament building in Kyiv
(Image: The Guardian)

Violent clashes erupted on Monday, 31 August, in the capital of Ukraine Kyiv during the protests at the Parliament building, where the MPs were voting for the controversial law allowing to amend Ukrainian Constitution.

The law was strongly criticized by many legal experts, politicians and activists as the law that will benefit Russian interests as it is expected to grand the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk the special status within Ukrainian territory and to grant them wide autonomy. Thus, the regions are expected to remain under Ukrainian control, but they would be granted wide autonomy and could affect the decisions and foreign policies of Ukraine.

Ukraine: Crimean crisis, Western reactions and press conference of Vladimir Putin

Russian military troops in Ukrainian Crimea
(Image: Bloomberg)

Despite an increasing international pressure and calls of Western countries to withdraw Russian troops from Crimea immediately, Russian military remains in Crimea and the numbers of the troops are reportedly increasing on the borders with Ukraine, close to Lugansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Chernigiv regions. Several provocations of Russian soldiers occurred again during the night, but Ukrainian soldiers stand and refuse to give up arms and are ready to protect Ukraine till the end, if there will be an assault. Till now Ukrainian soldiers are demonstrating an incredible patience and self-restraint despite the provocations and assaults, and this position prevents the beginning of the armed conflict in the region, as Russian side waits for the first shot from Ukrainian side to justify its invasion.

Ukraine: acting President was appointed, EU announces its support of Ukrainian future government, Yanukovich disappeared, Yulia Tymoshenko is not welcomed as potential presidential candidate

Commemoration of slain protesters, Heroes of Ukraine
(Image: Euromaidan Facebook page)

After historical Parliamentary session held on Saturday and really decisive day for Ukrainians Parliament has officially declared return to the 2004 Constitution and impeached Yanukovich. Early presidential elections are set on 25 May 2014. Parliament has also voted on Sunday for the candidacy of acting President and appointed on this position current Speaker of Parliament Oleksandr Turchinov, according to the norms of the Constitution.

Oleksandr Turchinov in his turn has announced the beginning of forming of the interim government replacing the positions of Minister of Interior, Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Prosecutor General, Head of SBU (Intelligence Office) and others. European integration was declared as the main course of Ukrainian international policies, stated Mr. Turchinov.

Ukrainian uprising: agreement between Yanukovich and opposition, historical parliamentary session, commemoration of slain protesters and threats of an attempt of Ukraine’s federalization

Kyiv Maidan after violent clashes
(Image: Den')

Ukrainians have experienced really black days in the entire history of the independent state since the beginning of the horrible and brutal assault of security forces against Euromaidan protesters, leaving more than 100 people killed and thousands badly injured. After the previous days of terrible fights, when Kyiv turned into Syria-like battlefield, and extremely hard night, when several living districts have been attacked by the so called “titushki” and thugs, and Ukrainians united in the self-organized units of self-defense and patrolled the streets of the city all night long, Friday was relatively calm for the protesters despite the worries about the possibility of the new assault.

Ukrainian protests continue. Temporarily ceasefire was reached during the talks between Yanukovich and opposition

Maidan (Independence Square) in the morning of Thursday,
after night's attack
(Image: DPA)

Confrontations between Ukrainian protesters and activists of Euromaidan and “Berkut” and security forces are ongoing in Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities as well, as opposition and Yanukovich have failed to reach an agreement during the Tuesday’s negotiations.

Ministry of Health reported about at least 30 killed people, though the eyewitnesses and doctors working on the ground and in the hospitals claim there are more casualties and thousands of wounded, most of them with the wounds caused by live ammunition and bombs.

Violent clashes erupted in Ukrainian capital during the peaceful protests of Euromaidan

Fierce clashes in Independence Square in Kyiv
(Image: +Yana York )

Violent clashes between the peaceful protesters and riot police and supporters of Yanukovich and his government erupted on Tuesday, as protesters have marched to the governmental district and building of Parliament, where the decisive parliamentary session aimed to discuss and vote for the Constitutional reform and for the candidacy of the new Prime Minister has been held.

Oppositional leaders have been calling for the activists and protesters to gather on Tuesday for the massive peaceful marches to be held in front of the Parliament’s building in order to pressure the MPs. Huge columns of protesters and self-defense of Euromaidan have marched to the Parliament building and other administrative buildings as well, where they have been stopped by the strong lines of riot police and the so called “titushki” (paid thugs used by Yanukovich’s regime to attack and intimidate the protesters).

Ukraine: Euromaidan continues its rallies as opposition and government have reached first agreements in the talks

Massive rally has been held in Kyiv on Sunday, 16 February
(Image: Olga Lappo)

Another traditional People’s Council has been held on Sunday, 16 February, in Kyiv’s Independence Square, as Euromaidan rallies and peaceful protests continue all over Ukraine. Nearly 100 thousand people have gathered in Sunday in Kyiv and dozens of thousands have joined Euromaidan rallies in other Ukrainian cities as well.

People have gathered to hear the strategy and the next steps of the plan of opposition in their talks with the authorities and in the fight for freedom and democracy of Ukraine.

Ukraine: Second round of the talks between opposition and Yanukovich was held amid clashes and continuation of violence

Protesters and riot police in Kyiv
(Image: Reuters)

Confrontations continue in Ukraine, as the clashes between protesters on Euromaidan and riot police happened during the night. Situation remains extremely tense and needs to be resolved in a peaceful way, state activists, representatives of artists, priests and intellectuals and oppositional leaders.

According to the information of Ministry of Health nearly 160 people have been injured, 2 people were killed, but the doctors working on the field report that only in 22 January there were several hundreds of injured, a lot of them don’t go to the hospitals due to the fears of being detained by the police, as police and special security forces “Berkut” were trying to attack several hospitals in the night attempting to arrest injured protesters. 5 people were killed on 22 January, four of them were killed with the live ammunition, the fifth one was found dead in the forest with the marks of tortures on his body. It was one of the activists kidnapped one day earlier.

Ukraine: Protesters and opposition have created National Association “Maidan” during the fifth massive rally in Kyiv

Massive rallies in Ukrainian capital on 22 December
(Image: Batkivshchyna Party Facebook page)

22 December was marked by the fifth massive consecutive rally of Euromaidan – anti-government and pro-Europeans rallies and protests being held in Kyiv and all over Ukraine since 21 November, when Ukrainian government tool and unexpected decision to suspend preparation to signing of Association Agreement with EU. More than 100 thousand people have gathered in Kyiv Independence Square with tens of thousands continuing protests nationwide, particularly in Western regions of Ukraine.

European Parliament is ready to present its resolution regarding Ukrainian situation. EU condemns use of force. Protests are ongoing

Thousands of Ukrainians gathering on Independence Square
(Image: Euan McDonald)

Western politicians including representatives of USA and EU have strongly condemned recent use of force by Ukrainian government against peaceful protesters when security forces and riot police have attempted to disperse the protests on the night of 11 December and stormed Independence Square, the main site of the protesters.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of EU, who is in Kyiv since Tuesday, 10 December, has also expressed deep concern of EU and condemned using of force and stripping citizens of their fundamental rights and freedoms, which include freedom of expression, peaceful protests and gatherings. It’s worth mentioning that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has assured Mrs. Ashton along with other representatives of Western countries that the talks with the oppositional forces will be organized and the force won’t be used again. Thus Mrs. Ashton expressed her disappointment over the recent events as the violent storming of the protesters happened the same night.

Ukraine: Million-man march was held in Kyiv and all over the country

Massive anti-government and pro-European protests in
Kyiv
(Image: Gazeta UA)

Between 500 thousand and 1 million people (according to different estimation) have attended Sunday’s million-man march “People’s Council” in Kyiv with tens of thousands of Ukrainians protesting also in other Ukrainian cities as well.

After failure of Vilnius Summit and refusal of Victor Yanukovich to sign Association Agreement with EU, violent dispersal of peaceful protesters on 30 November and terrible beating of demonstrators and journalists by special security forces in front of Presidential Administration on 1 December people continue their massive protests and strikes during the second week. Protesters also continue blocking of the administrative district in Kyiv where most of the governmental buildings are located.

Ukrainian government claims its readiness for dialogue, while opposition sees no dialogue until demands of protesters are met

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov
(Image: Governmental official portal)

Ukrainian government declared on Wednesday that it is ready to hold negotiations with the representatives of the oppositional forces in order to find the way out of the current crisis, according to the statement of Sergiy Arbuzon, Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Arbuzov stated that government is ready to negotiate even the possibility of early parliamentary and presidential elections if these offers will be made officially.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov addressed Western politicians and European ministers gathered on Thursday in Kyiv for the meeting of OSCE and declared in his speech that government is ready for the talks with the oppositional forces and demonstrators as the deepening crisis in the country should be resolved.

Ukraine: massive protests ongoing while the crisis is deepening with the power and opposition unable to find compromise

Huge protets on Kyiv Independent Square
(Image: Liga NET)

Situation on Ukraine where the massive anti-government protests sparked after failure of Vilnius Summit and signing of the Association Agreement with EU and violent dispersal of peaceful demonstrators on Independence Square in Kyiv. Tens of thousands are protesting in Kyiv and blocking the key administrative buildings such as Cabinet of Ministers, Parliament, Kyiv City Council, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Education. Huge demonstrations continue in other cities all over the country as well.

After Tuesday’s failure of Ukrainian opposition to vote for the non-confidence motion to the government and for the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his Cabinet of Ministers in Parliament the protests didn’t reduce with more people gathering in the capital for the protests and many arriving to Kyiv from other regions of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Parliament failed to vote for government’s resignation amid the continuous massive protests all over Ukraine

Massive anti-government rallies in Kyiv
(Image: INews)

Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered since the morning on Tuesday in front of the building of Ukrainian Parliament as the Parliament was expected to discuss the non-confidence motion to the government and its resignation initiated recently by the oppositional forces.

People have filled all the area in front of the Parliament, though the situation is tense with the alternative meeting of Yanukovich’s and government’s supporters gathered in front of the Parliament as well. There were reportedly nearly 150 people among the supporters of the current authorities; they were cordoned by the police forces in order to avoid their mixing with the anti-governmental protests. Additional security forces have been deployed on the scene with the entrances to the building blocked and lines of riot police and special forces “Berkut” and standing in front of the protesters.

Ukraine is in turmoil for the second day. First statements of officials and authorities start to appear

Massive protests against the regime of Victor Yanukovich
in Kyiv
(Image: UK Wikipedia)

Ukrainian revolution is ongoing for the second day with tens of thousands of people protesting in downtown Kyiv and in other cities all over Ukraine and several administrative buildings taken by protesters.

Massive rally against Ukrainian current authorities and President Victor Yanukovich has started in Ukraine on Sunday, 1 December, after riot police and security forces have violently beaten the peaceful protesters in the sit-in on Independence Square in Kyiv. According to the estimations of the journalists and participants of the protests there were between 750 thousand and 1 million people in Ukrainian capital. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are protesting in other cities as well including Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and other cities, even in Southern and Eastern regions, the regions traditionally supporting Victor Yanukovich and his political power.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have already gathered in Kyiv and all over Ukraine protesting the regime of Yanukovich

Massive demonstrations against Yanukovich regime in Lyiv
(Image: TSN)

Nearly 500 thousand people have gathered in downtown Kyiv, according to the estimations of the journalists and activists. Tens of thousands are also protesting all over Ukraine with the biggest numbers of protesters in Lviv, Ternopil and other cities of Western Ukraine. The numbers of protesters in Kyiv streets are rapidly increasing with more and more people joining the rallies against the regime of Victor Yanukovich and his government.

Demonstrators are demanding resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers and impeachment of the President who lost his legitimacy after recent events and Saturday’s violent dispersal of the peaceful sit-in on Independence Square resulted in dozens wounded and numerous activists and protesters arrested and detained.

Ukraine: Massive opposition rally has been held in Kiev

Massive opposition rally in Kiev

The massive opposition rally named “Raise, Ukraine!” has been held in Ukrainian capital Kiev on Saturday, 18 May 2013.

This rally was planned by the united oppositional forces including Batkivshyna (Homeland) Party, UDAR Party, Svoboda (Freedom) Party and several other oppositional parties, groups and organizations and was aimed to express withdrawal of confidence from Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich and protest against the attempts of the President and his government to monopolize all the power in the country.

The suspected in the pseudo-mining of Kyiv International airport is arrested

Kyiv International airport Boryspil

Nearly five thousand passengers were evacuated today from Kyiv International Boryspil airport and the arriving planes were delayed due to security measures after the airport authorities and the city’s police received the calls from the unknown person reporting about the airport’s mining.

The reports were false, and the police stated that the suspected person is already found and arrested.

This person is a Kyiv resident who was born in 1983. According to the police reports he is suffering from mental disorder and is on the books due to his mental health’s problems.

Police says he called two times to police with small time intervals and told the same phrase, that the International airport in Boryspil is mined. The calls were made at about 2 p.m. from the public telephone.

According to the press-secretary of Kyiv International airport in Boryspil nearly 3 thousands of people were evacuated from the newly constructed and built International Terminal F, and around 2 thousand people from the Terminals B and C. The Special Forces didn’t find anything, so the alarm was false.

The suspected is currently arrested by police. There is already the previous decision of the Court about his compulsory treatment.