press 2014-02-18 | 18:22 GMT
The riot police fell back as the fireworks began to fly. In the background, new groups beat their shields in rhythm to intimidate the crowds. Those police have now charged again, but have been met with molotovs.
The livestreams show a police officer hit with a molotov. Fire bombs and fireworks are traded for sound grenades and flash bangs:
press 2014-02-18 | 18:10 GMT
Teargas, explosions, grenades, flashes and shouting. The police have attacked the Maidan protests.
The explosions come at a rate of anywhere between 1 every few seconds and 4-10 a second. The government has sent hundreds, perhaps thousands, of police against the protest lines, and they have pushed through.
CHAOS – Police are firing water cannons, protesters are shining lasers and firing fireworks at police”
press 2014-02-18 | 17:53 GMT
BREAKING: The police are on the move:
The cameraman makes a prescient announcement as the police move into the square: “This is the beginning of the end. The end of the old Ukrainian nation and the birth of a new one.
press 2014-02-18 | 17:47 GMT
We’re watching the livestream from Kiev. Police and armored vehicles are staging right now near the front lines. This is a screen capture from a livestream. It appears everyone is gearing up to move. Just moments ago, someone broadcast the national anthem over the PA. The cameraman is translating some of them in real time. This is what he said is being broadcast:
The message is for women and children to evacuate Maidan right now because the police are preparing for an anti-terrorist operation which is about to begin. The police consider all gathered in Maidan terrorists. Typically it takes about 15 or 20 minutes from the start of these messages until the operation begins.
