Nataly
On February 18, 2014 in Kyiv began to unfold the bloodiest events of the Revolution of Dignity that led to the overthrow of the dictatorial government of Viktor Yanukovych. That day many activists gave their lives for the better future of Ukraine, Joinfo.ua reports.
During the winter of 2013-2014 in Kyiv and in many other cities of Ukraine people walked out to protect their freedom and their future. Later they would call it the Revolution of Dignity.
The first impetus to the protests was the refusal of the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych to sign the Agreement on the Association of Ukraine and the EU, when students and activists walked to the Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in the downtown Kyiv.
The first incident between the police and protesters happened when the special police unit (so-called Berkut) came to Maidan in the middle of the night of November 30. The policemen beat up with riot control weapons and forcibly dispersed the protesters, mostly students, who just stayed there for the night. almost come to naught. This gave a strong impetus to the society to begin massive protests that escalated into a real revolution.
After that, protesters organized a tent city on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti, occupied the building of the Kyiv city hall and announced an indefinite strike.
Several times the Yanukovych’s regime tried to disperse the protesters during December, but failed.
The first violent confrontation began on January 19 after Ukraine’s parliament approved toughening of the laws on the demonstrations and protests.
There was the first people killed during rally near the government’s building, and the degree of tension rose.
The second active phase started February 18. The special police unit (Berkut) and snipers shot at people on Maidan with AK-74 assault rifles. The day of 20 February was the bloodiest day of the clashes with at least 21 anti-government protesters being killed. The final death toll from the clashes was 103 protesters and 13 policemen.
Executions ended after ex-president Yanukovych fled to Russia on February 21, 2014.
The list of the Heaven’s Hundred contains only 130 confirmed deaths of Euromaidan participants. Most of them were civilian protesters. 18 police officers were also killed during the clashes.
One of theEuromaidan activists and now MP Boryslav Bereza writes in Facebook that it’s a black day for him today, because the perpetrators who killed protesters on the Maidan still have not been punished for their crimes.
