Editor's Note: The Kyiv Post is providing continuous coverage of the protests in Kyiv and other cities following the government's decision on Nov. 21 to stop European Union integration by rejecting an association agreement. The rallies started on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). The events can be followed on Twitter using hashtags #euromaidan and #євромайдан or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan.
Court fines and releases fifth person arrested after Dec. 1 clashes
Dec. 11, 7:37 p.m. A fifth protestor out of 10 arrested after clashes with the police on Dec. 1 has been released by a Kyiv court, Interfax news agency reported. Before that the protestor Vladyslav Zagorovko had to pay a fine of Hr 850.
Four more who had been arrested earlier and sentenced by two months in jail, were released following a court decision earlier in the day. One of them, Mykola Lazarevsky, was released but placed under home arrest. – Oksana Grytsenko
U.S. Senator John McCain express concern over the use of violence by Ukrainian authorities against peaceful demonstrators
Dec. 11, 7 p.m., “It is appalling that Ukrainian authorities have chosen to use violence and oppression against peaceful demonstrators in Maidan Square in Kyiv. Such despicable conduct violates the most basic universal rights – especially the freedom to speak and associate – that are owed to all people.”
“If Ukraine’s government thinks that brute force and the politics of fear can see it through the current crisis, it is woefully mistaken. More and more Ukrainians are showing that they are no longer afraid. Those brave men and women should know that they are not alone. Their friends across the world stand in solidarity with them. We will keep the world’s attention on Ukraine’s struggle for freedom, justice, and opportunity, and we will demand consequences for any crimes perpetrated against Ukrainians who are peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights,” reads statement posted on McCain’s website on Dec.11.
Ashton meets with opposition leaders
Dec. 11, 6:40 p.m. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton now meeting with opposition leaders of Ukraine on EuroMaidan,” Ashton’s spokesperson Maja Kocijancic wrote on Twitter.
Yanukovych invites opposition leaders to a roundtable, calls for reconciliation
Dec. 11, 6 p.m., “Dear compatriots! I have repeatedly stressed that the only way to go is the way of reconciliation and understanding . The actions of all parties must take place exclusively within the laws and the Constitution of Ukraine. I invite representatives of all the political forces, priests, members of the public to a national dialogue. I personally am willing to participate in this roundtable. For the sake of compromise I urge the opposition not to give up, do not go down the path of confrontation and ultimatums. Be assured that the government will act only within the law and never will use force against peaceful demonstrations. As President of Ukraine, the guarantor of the Constitution I will do my best to ensure proper functioning of the country, protect the rights and interests of each citizen, ensure peace and tranquility in our nation,” reads the statement posted on president’s website.
Central railway station, Boryspil airport start work again
Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m. The Kyiv central railway station and terminal D of Boryspil airport have reopened. “Reports about the bombs were false,” press-services of Boryspil airport and railway station announced. The inspection at Zhuliany airport, though is still under way. –- Anastasia Forina, Interfax-Ukraine
Yanukovych promises Ashton to settle critical situation in the country within 24 hours
Dec. 11, 5 p.m. “From what I’ve heard from the president, something should be done within 24 hours. He spoke a lot about his constant willing to see strong ties between Ukraine and the European Union, strong relations,” EU High Representative Catherine Ashton told journalists at a press-conference following her meeting with Yanukovych, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
Police report bombs at Kyiv airports, railway station
Dec. 11, 4 p.m. Kyiv Zhuliany and Boryspil airports, as well as Kyiv central railway station, have been mined, reports Kyiv police, citing an anonymous source who called in the news via the 102 emergency telephone line. Almost 1,200 people have been evacuated from terminals B and D of Boryspil airport, police said. Five flights have been delayed. Moreover, another big airport, Kyiv Zhuliany, also evacuated passengers and staff from its terminals after receiving an anonymous call warning of the planting of a bomb.
“The information is being checked. The atmosphere is calm. There is a great probability of a false alarm because of the tense situation in the country,” reads the airport’s page in Facebook. — Interfax-Ukraine
Police refute reports of riot police refusing to take orders
Dec. 11, 3:50 p.m. Contrary to local media reports and what a lawmaker has said, the Interior Ministry refuted information that Bekut riot police units have refused to take orders and head to Independence Square.
Local media in Kirovohrad Oblast reported that 220 Berkut officers refused orders to be transported to Kyiv and disperse demonstrators.
“This information is false not only because the main Kirovohrad police department doesn’t have that many special police forces,” said the interior ministry statement, adding that a small part of that oblast’s riot police force has been serving in Kyiv since late November to “maintain order on the capital’s streets.”
Another incident involves Batkivshchyna lawmaker Oleksandr Bryhynets who said 10 Berkut officers from Obolon district on the north side of Kyiv refused to take orders and went home.
Kyiv’s Obolon district doesn’t have any special police forces stationed there, the statement said, calling the news “disinformation.” – Mark Rachkevych
Court releases arrested protester
Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m. Yuriy Bolotov, an alleged participant of the Dec. 1 riots near the presidential administration was fined and released from custody, following a decision by the Kyiv Pechersk District Court, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
“The court found him guilty of active participation in the riots and fined him…Hr 850…and then released the defendant from custody,” press-service of Prosecutor’s General office reported. On Dec.10 the Kyiv prosecutor’s office announced that it will ask a court to free some people arrested in the EuroMaidan demonstrations. On Dec. 1, at least 10 protesters were arrested after clashes with police in front of the Presidential Administration. They were detained for two months. Suspected of organizing mass riots, they face up to 8 years in prison. -– Anastasia Forina
Dec. 11, 3 p.m. A national roundtable has begun in Kyiv’s Palats Ukrainia, reports Interfax-Ukraine. First Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk is leading the discussion. Former President Leonid Kuchma, Parliament speaker Volodymyr Rybak, Kyiv city council head Oleksandr Popov, Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Vikul, Party of Regions leader Oleksandr Yefremov and Communist party leader Petro Symonenko are among the attendants. Leaders of Oppositions parties are not present. -– Anastasia Forina
Dec. 11, 2:40 p.m. President Viktor Yanukovych is meeting with top European diplomat Catherine Ashton now, according to his press service. At 2:20 p.m. Ashton’s spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic tweeted that Ashton had been in a meeting with three former Ukrainian presidents. — Anastasia Forina
Dec. 11, 1:52 p.m. Support for European integration is gaining more creative shapes and forms. Sweet Donuts, a network of shops, has produced doughnuts in the colors of the EU flag.
Lutsenko designates Friday for next big rally
Dec. 11, 1:40 p.m. Former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko said the next big rally is planned for Dec. 13. Lutsenko called on Ukrainians to come to Maidan. “It is here, on EuroMaidan that European integration is happening. It is here that Ukraine is being built as a nation.” Lutsenko also estimated that on Dec.11 around 5,000 Berkut and Interior Ministry troops were at EuroMaidan. Overall, there are 10,000 Berkut and 30,000 Interior Ministry troops in Ukraine, he added. — Katya Gorchinskaya, Vlad Lavrov
Dec. 11, 1:24 p.m. Yuriy Lutsenko called on Ukrainians to come to Maidan. “It is here, on EuroMaidan that European integration is happening. It is here that Ukraine is being built as a nation.” — Katya Gorchinskaya
Maidan organizers call for psychologists to volunteer and boost morale
Dec. 11, 1:35 p.m. EuroMaidan organizers are calling for psychologists to work in the field “to talk to people, to support them, to persuade them to relax, eat, sleep, etc.”
The hotline numbers are:
066 7048923
968 2212059
063 3535118
– Mark Rachkevych
People tell stories about Maidan’s heroes
Dec. 11, 1:14 p.m. Maidan is getting its own heroes and legends. Here is one of the accounts caught on Facebook. “One of the heroes of today for me is the driver on the red line of the metro, who, while driving between Khreshchatyk and Teatralna, told passengers what is happening on Maidan and urged everyone who could to come out at Teatralna and support our people,” writes Olga Khomenko. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Ex-Regions member urges EuroMaidan to talk to oligarchs
Dec. 11, 1:02 p.m. Taras Chornovil, a former Party of Regions member, says that leaders of EuroMaidan have to seek contact with oligarchs who are hesitating and have been watching how events in Ukraine unfold. “I have been saying for two weeks now: seek contacts with the leaders of East and South, with those people you call oligarchs,” says Chornovil during a live show on Hromadske.tv. He says there are at least 15 such people in the Party of Regions faction in parliament.– Katya Gorchinskaya
Kyiv-Mohyla postpones exams to support EuroMaidan
Dec. 11, 12:52 p.m. Kyiv-Mohyla Academy announced that it has postponed all ongoing exams from today and invited all those students who are not yet on Maidan NEzalezhnosti to join an organized group at 1 p.m. to walk there together. The announcement was made by Serhiy Kvit, the dean, through his Facebook page. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Protesters recover ground, rebuild barricades
Dec. 11, 12:30 p.m. Protesters, including women, are setting up barricades on European Square, and Institutska and Mykhailovska Streets. Police and municipal workers had taken them down overnight. A festive mood is in the air.
Also, a buffer zone located on Bankova Street near the presidential headquarters isn’t noticeable anymore, and the area is being guarded by about 30 policemen. – Vlad Lavrov
Westerwelle asks Ukrainian government to refrain from violence of any form.
Dec. 11, 12:30 p.m., German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle asked the Ukrainian government to refrain from violence in his Dec.11 statement:
“In a democracy, peaceful demonstrations cannot simply be banned and put paid to with violence. The protests are an active expression of the people’s desire for a European Ukraine.
“I urgently call on the Government in Ukraine to refrain from violence of any form.
“Instead of a ban on protests and the clearing of Maidan Square, a real political dialogue must now be launched, not just continually promised. That the European Union and the Council of Europe are prepared to help in this endeavour is known in Kyiv.” — Anastasia Forina
Yanukovych holds meeting with Nuland
Dec. 11, 12:10 p.m. Viktor Yanukovych is meeting with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland now, according to his press-service. According to a U.S. embassy source, Nuland will make a 2-3 minute statement outside the presiential administration before going immediately to the airport. — Christopher J. Miller
Lithuanian foreign minister: Ukrainian authorities lose credibility overnight
Dec. 11, noon Responding to police action taken on Independence Square just hours after midnight on Dec. 11, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said the “Ukrainian authorities appear to have taken against the European path, the choice which is opposite to what the President of Ukraine has been saying publicly.”
Lithuania’s top diplomat stated that Ukrainian authorities have over a short period of time, “especially overnight, lost a lot of credibility.”
He continued: “The actions of the police against peaceful protesters show not only disrespect to these values but also complete lack of will to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the representatives of the civil society and the opposition who have a clear vision for the European future.”
LInkevicius called on authorities to “stop violent actions and provocations immediately” and to investigate all cases of violence and punish those responsible.
“We are impressed by the peaceful expression and strong spirit that we have seen in the Independence Square and trust that the European aspirations of the Ukrainian citizens will be fulfilled,” he said.
Lithuania has the presidency of the EU this year. –Mark Rachkevych
Interior Minister explains why the police attacked demonstrators
Dec. 11, 11:35 a.m. Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko released a statement about the events of the early morning on Dec. 11.
“For several days in the center of Kyiv there has been a transport collapse. The level of congestion on the roads of the capital has reached the maximum of 10 points. The main transport arteries of the city are blocked by barricades , the necessity and feasibility of construction of which are extremely doubtful.
In addition, trees and communal property belonging to the community of Kyiv are ruthlessly destroyed.
The police received numerous complaints, the vast majority from the inhabitants of the central part of the capital about inability to travel to their homes and the lack of peace at night.
I want to reassure everyone that there will be no dispersal of Maidan. No one infringes on citizens’ right of peaceful protest . But we can not ignore the rights and legitimate interests of others. Normal functioning of the capital should not be disrupted.
We need to continuously operate public transportation and emergency services such as ambulance, utility vehicles.
Unlocking of the streets was done to implement an court order that bans the blocking of transport.
The task of the police is to ensure public order in the wake of the ruling.
I would like to remind the citizens who violate the right of others of the need to respect the law.”
The original statement can be found here.
Women and children evacuated from city hall
Dec. 11, 24 a.m. Oleksandr Danylyuk, head of Spilna Sprava says : “Before the beginning of the storm on Kyiv city administration, according to the plan of evacuation, through the right wing which was guarded by Spilna Sprava, women and children were taken out through the window of the first floor. Nobody was injured.”
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State to make statement at 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 11, 11 a.m. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland will make a statement following a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych. According to Interfax-Ukraine, she was seen on Independence Square this morning handing out bread to protesters and offering cookies to riot police. She was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt. — Katya Gorchinskaya, Vlad Lavrov, Mark Rachkevych
Police moves back from city hall
Dec. 11, 10:15 a.m. The three police buses that were parked next to the main entrance to the city hall moved to the side, surrounded by crowd. — Kateryna Kapliuk
Police stays near city hall
Dec. 11, 9:40 am. Two buses carrying riot police officers tried to make their way to the city hall entrance, where three police buses stay for about 40 minutes, but were not allowed by the crowd of the protesters. Somebody used a smoke bomb. A man stands in the second floor window of the city hall, pouring water on the buses with the hosepipe. Other people shoot the buses with firecrackers. — Vlad Lavrov
Dec. 11, 9:05 a.m. Three buses with riot police officers stopped near the entrance to the city hall, the building held by the protesters since Dec. 1. At least 2,000 protesters stand around them, shouting “Shame!” and “Bandits out!”. People pour water on the buses from the windows of the city hall. — Vlad Lavrov
Two metro stations near Maidan closed
Dec. 11, 8:50 a.m. Two metro stations closest to the Maidan are closed. Khreschatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti stations will remain closed through the day of Dec. 11 because of “mass events,” metro website says. With them closed, the stations nearest to Maidan are Teatralna, Zoloti Vorota and Ploshcha Lva Tolstogo stations. — Olga Rudenko
Police speaks of eight arrests
Dec. 11, 8:25 a.m. Kyiv police reported that eight people were arrested for hooliganism during the storming of Maidan by riot police at night. Some of them were already released, others will be released after paper work is done. Each will get to pay fee or do public works. — Interfax-Ukraine
People on Maidan need hot tea, food and blankets
Dec. 11, 7:49 a.m. Journalists who spent their night on Maidan are making an appeal to bring the protesters tea, food and blankets. “Berkut managed to clear up a lot,” says Oleksandr Akymenko, a Ukrainian journalist. He also urged people to come to Maidan, saying it will be “a very important day.” —Katya Gorchinskaya
UDAR says 10 people were detained during the night raid
Dec. 11, 7:36 a.m. UDAR says 10 people were detained during the night-time clashes with police. They said their lawyer is already on the way to Shevchenkivkiy police department. —Katya Gorchinskaya
Protesters inside Trade Union buildings prepare sunflower oil
Dec. 11, 7:29 a.m. There seems to be a pause in the actions of the police in the street, but inside the Trade Unions building protesters are opening up a vast number of bottles with sunflower oil. They say this is for policemen to slip on. –Vlad Lavrov
Protesters prepare for attack inside Trade Unions building
Dec. 11, 7:22 a.m. Inside the Trade Unions building, around 250 protesters in helmets and armed with wooden sticks are expecting police to attack. There are plans to use water hoses against them once they enter the building, and they are now being unrolled.– Vlad Lavrov
Police says no tear gas or other special equipment was used at night
Dec. 11, 7:18 a.m. Interior Ministry said in a statement that police officers and soldiers of internal troops did not use tear gas or other special equipment towards the protesters at night. There were several photos and reports of tear gas being used during the clashes, including by Kyiv Post reporters.
The police, in their statement, also said that the clearing off of Maidan was carried out at night “to avoid additional noise and inconvenience to traffic and people, since the working week continues.” — Katya Gorchinskaya
EuroMaidan has been holding for six hours
Dec. 11, 7:00 a.m. By 7 a.m., people on EuroMaidan have been restraining an attack from the police for nearly six hours. The police, who say they are acting on court order to clear the roads leading up to Maidan Nezalezhnosti, removed one barricade in the first hour of the attack, and continued to push the crowd to remove two others for the rest of the night. At least 10 police officers were injured in clashes and an unknown number of protesters, including one with suspected damage of spine. People continued to arrive to Maidan in support of those who stood through the night, in freezing cold, at minus 9 degrees Celsius. More and more people were calling through social networks for a national strike on Wednesday, Dec. 11. —Katya Gorchinskaya
Witness tell Channel 5 that several people were taken away in police van
Dec. 11, 6:48 a.m. One of the protesters, Nikita Petyk, told Channel 5 that he witnessed several people being packed into a van and taken away. He said he was also detained but later released because the police did not want him to film inside of the van. He says one of those people in the van had a head injury and was bleeding. All these events took place between 3 and 4 a.m., he said. —Katya Gorchinskaya
An ex-Regions member publicly apologizes for staying in the party for four years
Dec. 11, 6:44 a.m. Taras Chornovil, a former Party of Regions members, apologized to the EuroMaidan crowd from stage for his four years in the party. “I didn’t have enough brains to figure out who Yanushesku (a pun combining words Chaushesku and Yanukovych.” — Katya Gorchinskaya
More police are waiting in back streets
Dec. 11, 6:24 a.m. 15 busses full of uniformed people on Kostyolna Street, just off Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Engines are turned on to keep the buses warm. Police units on Kostyolna and Mykhailivska Streets are surrounded by protesters, but atmosphere is not particularly tense. Everything seems peaceful — Aleksandra Kovaleva
A call for national strike is spreading in social networks
Dec. 11, 6:24 a.m. More and more people are starting to call for a general strike today as a way to protest the government’s attack on peaceful EuroMaidan. — Katya Gorchinskaya
A new police storm on Mykhailivska
Dec. 11, 6:19 a.m. The police are now attempting to break up a barricade on Mykhailivska Street. There are around 1,000 of them. They made the first attempt and then stopped after removing a couple of portable toilet cabins. Someone in the crowd threw some fireworks into the mass of policemen. —Vlad Lavrov
Interior Ministry denies reports of beating people, warns protesters that their actions will be qualified as causing mass disturbances
Dec. 11, 6:10 a.m. Interior Ministry released a statement denying reports in social networks and media that some protesters got beaten inside police vans. The ministry said the reports were “nothing but an attempt of some politicians to manipulate public opinion.”
It also issued a warning to people not to resist the police. “Interior Ministry urges citizens not to succumb to provocations. Unlawful actions against police officers are qualified as organizing mass disturbances,” the statement says. –Katya Gorchinskaya
People offer free rides to Maidan
Dec. 11, 6:00 a.m. Taxi drivers and regular people who are going towards Maidan Nezalezhnosti are tweeting massively and posting in other social networks offers of free drives to the city center. Here is an example from @Sashko182: “To Maidan. 3 places, Lukianivka, Dorohozhychi, Podil, Vynohradar. Will be free in 20 minutes. Call 0504109218, 0963664726” — Katya Gorchinskaya
Metro is reportedly closed
Dec. 11, 5:50 a.m. Maidan Nezalezhnosti and Khreshchatyk metro stations are closed due to “mass events downtown.” Leaders of Maidan from stage continue to call on Kyiv residents to come into the center. —Vlad Lavrov
10 policemen injured in clashes
Dec. 11, 5:45 a.m. At least 10 law enforcers were injured in clashes by 10 a.m., the police said. The police statement says that “headed by people’s deputies from the opposition, (people) are resisting the State service for emergencies and communal workers in executing a court order of unblocking the center of the capital.” Earlier, lawmaker Mykola Tomenko said from stage that under Ukraine’s law court orders are not executed from 10 p.m. till 6 p.m., except in life threatening situations or when execution started before 10 p.m. but coulf not be finished.--Interfax-Ukraine
Dec. 11, 5:39 a.m. A large number of Berkut is coming down from Mykhailivska Square down to Maidan. —Kostyantyn Chernichkin
Leaders of opposition are called to meet Nuland
Dec. 11, 5:39 a.m. Leaders of the opposition were called to come and meet Deputy State Secretary Victoria Nuland. They’re all in the crowd, it was said from stage. Kyiv Post spotted at least several dozen lawmakers from the opposition in various parts of EuroMaidan. —Vlad Lavrov, Katya Gorchinskaya
Protesters are getting injured
Dec. 11, 5:33 a.m. People who are currently on Maidan are making an appeal to those who are trying to get there to take medication with them. “People need medical help and not everyone can get it,” writes journalist Kristina Berdinskikh in her Facebook.
Dec. 11, 5:31 a.m. There are several protesters injured on Maidan, Interfax-Ukraine reports. The exact number of them is unknown. They are being taken to ambulances. –Katya Gorchinskaya
Riot police storm EuroMaidan protest site on Independence Square
Dec. 11, 5:13 a.m. Berkut and other special police units who pushed up against protesters earlier in the morning are now being replaced by fresh troops as thousands of protesters flood Independence Square. Already there are an estimated 25,000 in the crowd. The police pressure is expected to last throughout the day. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 5:06 a.m. Municipal workers in orange vests are dismantling the remains of barricades erected last week and using a front end loader and a dump truck to haul the material away. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:58 a.m. Statement by top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton on the current events on Maidan:
“I’m still in Kyiv. I was among you on Maidan in the evening and was impressed by determination of Ukrainians demonstrating for european perspective of the country.
“Some hours later I observe with sadness that police uses force to remove peaceful people from the centre of Kyiv. The authorities didn’t need to act under the coverage of night to engage with the society by using police.
“Dialogue with political forces and society and use of arguments is always better than the argument of force.” — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:51 a.m. A group of about 300 protesters are guarding the entrance to the Trade Unions building which has been occupied by protesters since a mass public rally on Dec. 1. Hundreds of riot police stand nearby. A court today ordered protesters to vacate the building, but a decision was later made to allow some to stay until at least Dec. 25. Near the entrance to the building an artificial Christmas tree burns, sending heavy amounts of smoke into the air. — Vlad Lavrov, Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:46 a.m. Protesters armed with fire hoses are reportedly spraying down the front steps of Kyiv city hall, which has been occupied by them since Dec. 1. “Ouside the city hall protesters are creating an ice-rink so the riot police, well, slips away,” reporter Olaf Koens Tweeted with the image below. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:25 a.m. Opposition member of parliament Olesya Orobets, says that riot police have captured at least five protesters. “Severe beatings of helpless and immobilized people in paddy wagons by the police are reported. At least one beating of (an elderly) man was reported, his head is badly bleeding,” she wrote on Facebook, adding that yesterday, Dec. 10, was Human Rights Day.
“Thank you for your present, Mr. Yanukovych!!!” she wrote. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:25 a.m. More people rushing to Independence Square from Mikhailivskiy Street and near Bessarabska Rynok to help in what has essentially turned out to be a massive shoving match between protesters and riot police.
Hundreds of police officers have made it through barricades and protesters and are currently standing around tents on Independence Square that protesters had set up earlier in the week. There has been no sign yet that police plan to remove the tents on the square. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 4:18 a.m. An unknown type of gas has been released in the crowd on Institutska Street, but it is unclear from which side it came. Berkut officers with video cameras are recording the event. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 4:01 a.m. Men dressed as municipal workers are carrying electric saws and cutting down pieces of protester barricades pushed over by riot police, who are pulling rowdy protesters from the crowd, taking them away from the scene. The riot police look especially well coordinated here, steadily advancing some 20 meters every 10 minutes toward Independence Square, down Institutska Street.– Katya Gorchinskaya, Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 3:55 a.m. A Berkut riot police officer is blatantly clubbing a man in the crowd of protesters who is wearing a Batkivshchyna jacket. The crowd is extremely thick, but Berkut, using their shields and shoving, is pushing through it. The crowd is trying to push back. The scene is surreal, with riot police in blue and black and protesters in orange hard hats going back and borth. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 3:49 a.m. Protester barricades on Institutska St. are down. Police are now inching toward Independence Square. There is still lots of shoving between the thousands of police and protesters. The crowd is shouting, “shame!” to riot police. Some of the police officers are standing atop the torn apart barricades, looking over the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the soundstage, opposition lawmaker Olesya Orobets is shouting to the crowd in English: “Europe, do you hear us? We’re standing here for our rights! We don’t want to go back to Russia!”
She is calling for personal sanctions against members of the Ukrainian government. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 3:42 a.m. Riot police are close to breaking through barricades set up by protesters on Institutska St. near Independence Square. Thousands are trying to stop them from doing so. Behind on the EuroMaidan main stage, Opposition leaders Vitali Klitschko from UDAR and Oleh Tiahnybok from Svoboda are speaking to protesters. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 3:24 a.m. Opposition UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko, speaking to protesters from the EuroMaidan stage, says “we are defending our right to live in free country.”
“We say no to a police state,” he says, adding that the president must resign. The crowd shouts back: “Resignation!” — Oksana Grytsenko
Live streaming video by Ustream
Dec. 11, 3:19 a.m. Opposition member of parliament Olesiya Orobets on Facebook writes: “Electricity is switched off in the Kyiv City Council building, people there are in complete darkness. Barricade near Zhovtnevy Palace still holds. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 3:15 a.m. Some 200 Interior troops have formed a rectangle in front of #Kyiv city hall. Inside that, workers in orange vests dismantling barricade. — Vlad Lavrov
Dec. 11, 3:13 a.m. Police and protesters clash on Institutska St. Tear gas being used by police. Barricades being torn down, protesters grabbed by police. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 2:55 a.m. Okean Elzy (Ukrainian rock band) song “I won’t give up without a fight” blares from soundstage, protesters sing along loudly. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 2:52 On Institutska Street more than 1,000 additional police forces have arrived. They now outnumber protesters there, who are wearing orange hard hats. A municipal worker and his truck are in the midst of the dark-helmeted police crowd. The groups are still separated by a barricade, but it appears as though it is only a matter of time before it comes down. — Kyiv Post reporters
Dec. 11, 2:39 a.m. One of the men leading the riot police, Gen. Stepan Poltavenko, says: “We’re simply standing here to allow communal workers to work. They are clearing the barricade at the crossroads of Khreschatyk and Zhytomyrska streets. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 2:34 a.m. Interior troops move in to support Berkut and guard the perimeter. Meanwhile, a priest prays from the main EuroMaidan stage. Berkut riot police are dressed in bulletproof vests and helmets, and they are carrying truncheons.
There is another perimeter of police outside of Independence Square who are not allowing anyone into the area. A police general is in charge but not commenting, telling troops only to stand. — Christopher J. Miller, Katya Gorchinskaya
Dec. 11, 2:30 a.m. Police are slowly and methodically pushing back protesters on Institutska St towards the barricade. Hundreds of protesters are rushing over to help push police back. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 2:23 a.m. Riot police are trying to push through a barricade on Institutska Street. Protesters are pushing back against the police. — Christopher J. Miller
Dec. 11, 2:11 a.m. Berkut riot police have separated the protest camp into two parts, dividing those at the Trade Union house from the rally’s stage. Lawmakers are standing on the stage trying to calm protesters and police. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk is running through the crowd with a loudspeaker asking police to stop. — Oksana Grytsenko
Dec. 11, 2:11 a.m. Speakers on the EuroMaidan stage call on bells from St. Michael’s to ring, lights on the square to be lit and protesters to sing the national anthem as they stare down hundreds of masked riot police. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Police take down barricades, move to square
Dec. 11, 1:58 a.m. Police in riot gear on Khreschatyk Street near the Trade Unions building, which protesters seized on Dec. 1, are trying to disassemble barricades from their side. Many have already broken through barricades from the European Square side on Mikhailivskiy Street and are on the square. — Yuriy Onyshkiv
Protesters urged to remain calm, police not to attack
Dec. 11, 1:54 a.m. The scene at Indpendence Square is very tense. Ukrainian pop star and de facto EuroMaidan leader Ruslana is urging people to stay calm. Police, too, are asking protesters to remain calm and emotionless, and they warn the crowd against any provocations. — Katya Gorchinskaya
Police mobilize, approach protesters on Independence Square
Dec. 11, 1:27 a.m. As demonstrators feared, dozens of police – hundreds by some estimates – mobilized just after 1 a.m. and are now moving from Institutksa Street in the government district toward main camps of protesters on Independence Square. Hundreds more police are reportedly moving toward the central square from European Square on Mykhailivska Str.
The scene is tense at the moment, with defiant protesters refusing to back down from police who reportedly have been ordered to clear the central square. “Peaceful protest!” and “Out with the gang!” and “Don’t execute the order!” protesters chant as police blast messages through megaphones that they respect the right to peacefully assemble, but provocateurs – especially those armed with sticks and chains – must be reported.
Radio Svoboda, the Ukrainian-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has a live feed of events unfolding now, which can be seen here. — Christopher J. Miller, Oksana Grytsenko, Yuriy Onyshkiv, Katya Gorchinskaya
Read the coverage of the Dec.10 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 9 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 8 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 7 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 6 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 5 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 4 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 3 events here.
Read the coverage of the Dec. 2 events here.
Read the morning coverage of the Dec. 1 events here, and the afternoon and evening coverage here.
