Ukraine: end of contestation or beginning of urban guerrilla warfare?

After two months of protests in Kiev, the riot police prepares the final assault to disperse the demonstrators.

euronews live

Throughout the morning the military has been clearing the area of protests, a perimeter of 200 metres around government buildings where in recent days were burned buses and erected barricades with burning tires.

This military operation comes under the legislative package approved at the weekend to end the opposition movement demanding the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The intervention of anti-riot forces began on Tuesday night and early this morning the stock was dramatic, there is talk of several dead, at least two were confirmed.





The two victims were hit by bullets at the time and who were protesting in the central area of the city, near the Parliament, where they have elapsed the clashes.

The Prosecutor confirmed that the two male protesters were killed by bullet.

The police deny that has so far made use of firearms. It is speculated about the existence of snipers that will have the Mission of pro-Government create chaos. Since Sunday, at least two hundred people were injured.

International community concerned about the violence

The Secretary General of NATO, Anders Forgh Rasmussen, underlined today its "extreme concern" given the information that there will be many dead.

The European Union also says that you can take action against the Ukraine, after reporting the deaths of two protestors.

The High Representative for foreign policy of the European Union (EU), Catherine Ashton made a statement which "strongly condemns the escalation of violence".

The United States Embassy in Kiev suspended the visas of several "Ukrainians" in response to measures taken against the demonstrators.

This morning, the Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, has committed itself to receive the three main opposition leaders still Wednesday for talks on the crisis. However, this is the second time that are announced negotiations between the Government and the opposition.

Vitali Klitschko, one of the opposition leaders, tried yesterday to be received by the head of State but he refused on the grounds that he was "busy".

Neighbouring Russia decried a situation which escapes any control since Sunday ".

Parliament last weekend approved a package of legislation to prevent the demonstrations.

The texts, voted only by members of the governing party, calling for heavy fines and prison sentences â€" which can go up to 15 years, who organize and participate in demonstrations.

Another aspect of these laws is, as in Russia, forcing the registration of non-governmental organizations-NGOs-, considering them "foreign agents" if they have financing from other countries.

Main events since the beginning of the protest

-November 21: Ukrainian President suddenly suspended negotiations on an association agreement with the EU and decides to approach Russia, which triggers an unprecedented cholera pro-European population.

-November 24: tens of thousands of people are demonstrating in Independence Square, known as the Maidan, the symbol of the Orange Revolution. The reactions of the opposition felt in many cities of Ukraine.

-November 30: attempted violent dispersion. The load of riot police caused several dozen wounded, including many students. The opposition demands the resignation of the head of State and early elections.

-December 01: a crowd of 200,000 to 500,000 demonstrators occupy the Maidan square and assemble tents and barricades. In an attempt to assault the House 300 people were injured in clashes with security forces in front of the headquarters of the presidential administration.

-Dec 8: the Organization of a mega rally brings hundreds of thousands of people to Kiev, a group of nationalist opponents knocks down a Lenin statue in the city centre.

-December 11: the u.s. Envoy Victoria Nuland, and the head of European diplomacy Catherine Ashton, go to Kiev. At the time of the visit to police launched an attack on Maidan Square to try to dislodge the occupants but the assault has been blocked by the influx of protesters and the operation aborted.

-December 25: opposition journalist of online "Ukrainska Pravda", Tetiana Chornovil, known for critical articles about Yanukovych, is brutally beaten by unknown.

de -10: the former Interior Minister and one of the current Ukrainian opposition figures, Yury Lutsenko, was beaten by police during the clashes and hospitalized.

About 50,000 people demonstrated against this event two days after the attack.

-19 December: about 200,000 people gathered at independence square, two days after the adoption of new laws that penalise the demonstrators.



.@BarrosoEU "We are shocked to hear the latest news from Ukraine about deaths of protesters" http://t.co/G08BPJ0V2Q #Euromaidan #Євромайдан

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