CLASHES BECAME WARFARE AGAINST PEOPLE’S SELF-DEFENSE IN DOWNTOWN KYIV – ongoing updates.

Feb. 20: last night’s truce was broken on Maidan in the center of Kyiv. It is still unclear who fired the first live shots which came from the direction of the Conservatory building behind police lines. Molotov cocktails and grenades were also being thrown by police at the Conservatory. The directions of the shots point to a provocation by government forces as it would be extremely difficult for protesters to take firing positions from that direction. Since then Berkut snipers have been firing at protesters. Reports of deaths vary between 50 and 100 people, SIXTY confirmed as of 4:30 pm.

Current events, continued from EVENTS OF MORNING AND AFTERNOON, 09:08 to 10:52; 11:00 to 12:00; 12:00 to 13:00; 13:00 to 14:00; 14:00 to 15:00; 15:00 to 16:00.

16:00 – After Sixty People Die, Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Announces: Yes, Police Carry Firearms

Euromaidan PR on Twitter:
It took at least sixty confirmed deaths and until 4 pm for Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Zakharchenko to announce that law enforcers carry firearms – and WILL use them if required (note the future tense!). He also commends his men, urges ‘extremists’ to return to a peaceful protest, and believes that, “There is no other democratic country with this degree of police self-control and tolerance.” Well, that’s one thing he got right.

16:05 – Some Titushkas Are Barely 13

Oleksandr Kryvenko via Revolution in Ukraine:
A friend from Talne, Cherkasy region just told me:
“It’s war here! Lots of people gathered at the ring (three-way highway intersection) outside the city, maybe several thousand, and more keep coming, carrying bats, sticks, shields, crowbars… This morning, they stopped buses with titushkas – some ran away, some are in our hospital. Some of the titushkas are kids, just 13 years old. They look like they’re drunk or drugged up. They were threatening everyone – ‘we’re gonna show you all, we’re gonna kill you…’. Some live grenades were found in the bus, they were handed over to the police.

16:12 – Building in Chervonozoryaniy Avenue Occupied by Berkut

Dmitry Skybyn, Kostyantyn Tauchelov:
My section of apartment block has been taken by Berkut. All of them wear bulletproof vests and carry AK’s. Six men. Standing inside and on balconies. 150 Chervonozoryaniy Avenue.

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16:30 – Statement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At the time when the eyes of the world are turned to Ukraine, when our brothers and sisters lose their lives on the streets of Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian diplomats cannot stay aside.

Under these conditions, our primary mission is a true and impartial informing the international community about the situation in our country, as well as protection of national interests of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and each and every Ukrainian citizen.

We have always been and will be guided by the basic principles – independence of Ukraine, safeguarding through diplomatic means its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore we cannot but respond to some statements coming both from inside and outside of Ukraine about a possible split of our country. We strongly condemn such statements and express our utmost support for Ukraine as a single, unitary, and European State.

We believe that now is the time for compromise. We urge all parties to do everything to ensure that our country has ceased the bloodshed.

When the conflict is still underway, remember that the common European values unite Ukrainian citizens with each other. We believe that the signing of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, the support of which has in fact become a cornerstone for Euromaidan, can unite us all.
(source: Facebook page of Ukrainian MFA)

16:42 – Troops Leave Detained Train

Special troops have finally left the train in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, which was stopped from moving to Kyiv by a crowd of protesters.

16:45 – Break Announced in Parliament Session

Christopher Miller, Editor of KyivPost:

MP Oleh Lyashko says break in Rada b/c #Yatseniuk, #Klitschko, #Tyahnybok left to meet FMs of Poland, Germany who earier met #Yanukovych.

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 20, 2014

16:50 – Cash Needed for Bulletproof Vests

Democratic Alliance:
42 thousand hryvnya required to buy buletproof vests, as soon as possible, and preferably in cash. If you’re willing to help – call +38 066 186 26 97

Потрібно 42 тисячі гривень на бронєжилети якомога швидче і краще готівкою. Якщо ви готові дати гроші – дзвоніть 066 1862697 #Євромайдан

— Демократичний Альянс (@demalliance) February 20, 2014

16:51 – Parliament Waking Up

Olexander Bryhynets:
VR [Parliament] officials finally woke up. Switched on the Rada [electronic voting] system. Announced official written registration [of attending MPs].

16:56 – Snipers Shot to Kill, Doctor Confirms

Doctor Olha Bohomolets, interviewed by Christopher Miller, Editor of KyivPost:
“Police were shooting for death at the brain, heart, neck, lungs. They did not let doctors treat them. None of the 12 dead here (at Ukraina Hotel) were wearing armor. They had no guns. Bullets are still lodged in the heads and lungs and heart. They have not yet been removed. We (operate) here (at Ukraina Hotel). Because in hospitals, police are stealing them (protesters).”

16:58 – European Ministers Leave Negotiations, Look Grim

Ukrayinska Pravda, photo by Sylvie Kauffmann:
European Ministers of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski of Poland, Laurent Fabius of France and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany left the Ukrainian Presidential Administration building on Thursday evening, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The meeting lasted for almost six hours, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent said. The ministers emerged from the administration building with grave faces and quickly got into their cars, refusing to speak to reporters, despite earlier agreement.