Hundreds came to central Kyiv on the morning of Feb.18 to attend events dedicated to the third anniversary of the killings of EuroMaidan activists, commonly known as the Heavenly Hundred.
The series of mourning events will last until Feb. 21, and will honor the victims of the Revolution of Dignity, which took place during the winter of 2013-14.
Three years ago on Feb. 18–20, 2014, at least 125 people were killed during clashes between protesters and security forces in Kyiv, including 19 police officers. Overall, more than 600 people got injured.
On Feb. 22, 2014 the Ukrainian Parliament impeached then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled the country on the night of Feb. 22 to Russia, where he has been residing ever since.
In Kyiv, events are being held on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the ity’s central square, near the memorial dedicated the Heavenly Hundred. A photo exhibition featuring the portraits of soldiers killed in the Russia’s war against Ukraine has been set up on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Near the Monument of Independence Column, people laid candles and flowers on a Tryzub trident (Ukraine’s national symbol) made of concrete blocks.
The commemoration events were accompanied by increased security measures. Metal detectors were set up at the entrances to Khreshchatyk Street, and it and adjacent streets are closed to traffic. Overall more than 6,000 police officers are maintaining order of in the city center.
The events started at 10:30 a.m. with a commemorative march of several hundred people, who went from Ukrainian House on European Square to Instytutska Street, where they laid flowers at a cross on Heavenly Hundred Alley, a section of Instytutska Street where many protestors were shot dead.
People in the procession held Ukrainian national flags, flowers and posters reading “We remember. Heavenly Hundred. Heroes don’t die!”
The march was followed by the opening of the photo exhibition scheduled on 12 p.m. in Ukrainian House called “In the Focus of Events. Human Factor” dedicated to EuroMaidan participants.
Several hundred soldiers, priests and families of Heavenly Hundred heroes attended the mourning events this morning.
Three year since the mass slaughter of the EuroMaidan activists, no one has been punished, as court proceedings against some former riot police officers and against ex-President Yanukovych have dragged on without results.
Relatives of the killed protesters say they will continue to seek justice.
“The country is changing but not as quickly as the EuroMaidan Heroes would like to. The new generation that will be raised on the exploits of the Heavenly Hundred has already been born. And the country will be changed,” said Volodymyr Holodniuk, the father of the EuroMaidan Hero Ustym Holodniuk who was shot in the head when he was helping to collect the bodies of sniper victims on Instytutska street on Feb. 20, 2014.
List of the mourning events on Feb. 18 – 21:
Feb. 18
12 p.m. – 6 p.m. – “In the Focus of Events” photo exhibition. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – “Brave, Our Heroes” multimedia exhibition. Globus shopping mall, central entrance (1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti St.)
Feb.19
1 p.m. – “Guardian Angels” book presentation of Ukrainian poet Tetyana Domashenko. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
1 p.m. – guided tour “Through the Places of the Revolution of Dignity.” Globus shopping mall, central entrance (1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti St.)
3 p.m. – “We, Maidan” performance. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
4.30 p.m. – “A Snapshot of Memory” discussion with participants of “We, Maidan” performance. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
Feb. 20
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Memorial Service for the Heavenly Hundred heroes. Instytutska St.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – “In the Focus of Events” photo exhibition. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – “Brave, Our Heroes” multimedia exhibition. Globus shopping mall, central entrance (1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti St.)
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – ignition of memorial lantern along the Heavenly Hundred Alley on Instytutska St.
Feb. 21
12 p.m., 6 p.m. – guided tour “Through the Places of the Revolution of Dignity.” Globus shopping mall, central entrance (1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti St.)
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – “In the Focus of Events” photo exhibition. Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyk St.)
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – “Brave, Our Heroes” multimedia exhibition. Globus shopping mall, central entrance (1 Maidan Nezalezhnosti St.)
