RT
December 2, 2013
Thousands of pro-EU demonstrators chanting ‘Revolution!’ protested on ‘Maidan’ square in Kiev on Sunday, despite a court-imposed ban on rallies. Over 200 people – both protesters and police – were injured in the ensuing clashes.
Chanting protesters displaced metal barriers that were installed by police on Independence Square, also known as Maidan (Ukrainian for “square”), as more were expected to flock into the capital from the regions. Ukrainian media said that some 700,000 people gathered, calling for the Ukrainian government and the president to resign over rejecting EU association earlier this week.
By late evening tensions seemed to be dying down in the country’s capital, although the situation is still tense, RT’s Aleksey Yaroshevsky reports from Kiev. He estimates that there are still up to 20,000 people protesting at the central square.
The Kiev City State Administration was occupied by protesters and vandalized with a sign saying “Revolution Headquarters.”
The raging crowd, which split into several columns, also stormed the Mayor’s offices, breaking windows and opening the doors from the inside, Itar-Tass reported, citing local media.The protesters set up what they described as the temporary headquarters of the united opposition. The Trade Union building near ‘Maidan’ square has also been taken by the ‘provocateurs’ bearing emblems of the opposition parties. Other reports claim that the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers building was stormed. Also late on Sunday, dozens of protesters attempted to deface the monument of Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin on Kiev’s Bessarabskya Square, but were repelled by the police who stopped them from succeeding. Brief clashes between the sides followed.
Here are some videos of the drama. Pretty intense stuff.