Pro-European protests in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, started five years ago -- on November 21, 2013. The early peaceful demonstrations turned into three months of confrontation between civilians and special forces. Dozens of people were killed and thousands were injured in a series of clashes in and around the city's central Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). The rallies became known as the Euromaidan protests.
After pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych's abrupt decision to end talks on a Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, protesters gathered on late November 21 in the main square of Ukraine's capital. In the following days, up to 100,000 Ukrainians joined the demonstrations.
The beatings on November 30 marked a turning point of the protests, with at least 79 people injured that day.
Inside The 'Euromaidan' Kitchen
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
As mass antigovernment protests continue in Kyiv, volunteers have taken on the job of feeding the activists in the streets. The main kitchen supplying the protests, located at the dining hall of a trade union building, is in operation 24 hours a day, making meals and hot drinks with supplies donated by supporters.
In the days following the vote in parliament, thousands gathered to protest the legislation restricting demonstrations. Hundreds were reported injured in the unrest. Protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails, set fire to cars and buses, and used the debris to build barricades in the streets.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of protests in November.
Deadly Day In Kyiv
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
The body count mounted dramatically in Kyiv on February 20 as fighting between antigovernment protesters and security forces escalated. Field hospitals were hastily improvised in hotel lobbies in Independence Squares to care for the injured, as video footage showed that some security forces were apparently using live ammunition and sniper rifles. There have been dozens of deaths since fighting broke out on February 18.
