As of 14:30 Kyiv time, Saturday, (as circulating on Facebook).
First: There was no clearing of Maidan.
The situation in Ukraine continues to escalate and is extremely fragile. These are the facts…mainly reported on Ch.5, with any rumors identified as such.
ANOTHER ACTIVIST DEAD
45 year old Roman Senyk, from western Ukraine died from injuries sustained on January 22nd. Berkut attacks on Hrushevskoho Street. His ‘chest cavity’ was operated on twice and his arm was amputated.
THE COURTS HAVE BEEN BUSY
17 Automaidan Participants have been sentenced to 2 months in prison
2 to home arrest (including a 72 year old activist)
MAIDAN IS SPREADING ACROSS THE NATION
Regional Administration Buildings (Like state government/governor’s offices in the US) are being forcefully taken over by protestors. The situation is evolving rapidly.
7 out 26 Oblasts (Regions) are now controlled by the “Narod” (the People).
11 are besieged/blockaded by protesters.
5 have active protests at their doors
2 are quiet (Donetsk and Luhansk)
KYIV MAIDAN – FIRES AND PITCHFORKS
In Kyiv, the tire fires have been burning since last night. Activists that get covered with water from government firehouses are receiving changes of clothes brought to them right to the front lines by other activists. Channel 5 showed footage of tires and supplies of pitchforks, yes pitchforks, being unloaded from activist cargo transport vehicles. Retired Gen. Hrytsenko recommended that those who have registered firearms, wear them on their person if they go to Maidan as the govt is snatching people left and right. He poses the question: “Why should we not defend ourselves?”
Rumor: on Hrushevskoho, activists have spotted police entering the back entrance of “Dim Ukrainy” (Ukrainian House) on European square. It has long been rumored that this building is packed with Berkut. The protesters are completely exposed, from the rear, on that side of European Square. There are no barricades there to protect them or to slow an attack.
MILITIA UNITS RESIGNING
It has been confirmed that the entire militia units in Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, and Vynnytsia have flipped and apologized to the Narod. (Keep in mind there are officers from Yanukovych in all regions threatening defectors with Military Tribunals if they resign). Rumors: Founder of Party of Regionals resigned (?), many judges are resigning (?) – unconfirmed.
THE GOVERNMENT
Yanukovych spoke on TV last night with a tragic and sad disposition about people suffering. How willing he is to talk to the opposition to reach a peaceful solution. How the opposition is rejecting his appeals. How he will be forced to take legal measures, etc…
The leader of Automaidan, Bulatov, has still not been found. The other Automaidan guys have offered 10,000 USD for information leading to finding him.
People keep disappearing from the streets and hospitals (Doctors are getting SBU phonecalls asking for reports about patients). Seven students (art/film students) were snatched off the street – not on Maidan. Status unknown. Three men were arrested during the night for having tires in their cars.
Zakharchenko (Interior Minister/top cop) released information (words) that one police officer has been killed by Maidan activists and two have been kidnapped and are being held in the Kyiv City Admin Bldg controlled by activists. Maidan is denying this information.
Zakharchenko stated that negotiations with Maidan activists have proved futile. That the activists are accumulating fire arms. He said he is being forced to take action by all methods at his disposal.
SIGNS OF RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT
A military analyst reviewed activist debriefs after torture and intimidation sessions and identified Russian FSB techniques used in Chechnya and other countries. Those released activists reported strange regional Russian accents.
DID I MENTION IT’S COLD?
It’s REALLY cold in Kyiv. -20, -21deg C (-5 degF). The kind of cold where the inside of your nostrils freeze with each inhale. Where the three layers you are wearing feel paper thin. Where the rubber soles of what you thought were badass, sh** kicking, boots freeze so solidly that it feels like you are ice-skating. Where your exposed face between your scarf and hat feels numb within minutes. NOTE: some of the automaidan guys were forced by Berkut to kneel in the snow two nights ago for 1.5 hours without their coats. The protesters have incredible RESOLVE and attitude.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishMaidan/posts/283772161771202
Updated map of areas of Ukraine that activists have taken over local government buildings and offices:
With that said, Yanukovych, Azarov and Zakharchenko seem to be making noises and preparations to call a state of emergency.
This is one of those interesting TIME LAPSE MAP OF 5 DAYS OF #EUROMAIDAN TWITTERS around the world, have a look.
This is a good website of human rights violations and other illegal acts that are ongoing in Kyiv/Ukraine/Euromaidan: POLICE VIOLENCE IN UKRAINE.
Getting married on the barricades is now a thing: Congratulations and best wishes!
+ Donetsk releases 6 imprisoned activists (Espreso.tv)
And Ultras “Dnepr” have been shaming corrupt policemen (and their “titushki”) all over the country. This video from Dnipropetrovsk:
And today is a special day in Ukraine – Student’s Day – and we celebrate all the amazing students in Ukraine for all you have to put up with trying to get an education, or educating yourselves, and for those students who stand strong on Maidan, who refuse to allow their country to become a psychotic dictatorship of criminals, whose vision of a free and fair future and a just civil society reawakened the dream for the rest of us who have become disappointed too many times. Respect. We stand with you and work with you to create that vision we all hold in our hearts!
04:00 pm Hrushevskoho barricades, Maidan
Evening additions:
Negotiations between Ukraine’s President and opposition leaders: detained activists to be released, opposition leader Yatseniuk offered post of Prime Minister, Vitali Klychko offered deputy premier…if Maidan disperses. It’s good to recall here that Klitschko earlier said it would only end with Yanukovych out of office.
Here read this government stuff if you want: http://www.president.gov.ua/en/
or BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25896786
Three more gubernatorial buildings taken, bringing number to 11. http://t.co/uPisc1xQwh
Voices of Ukraine 