Ukraine: Protesters Capture Police as Deadly Clashes Persist; Athletes Quit Olympics in Support

Thursday, February 20, 2014 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

Based on reports via Twitter.

From Christopher Miller, Editor of Kyiv Post:

At least 5 Interior troops captured by protesters and taken behind main stage on maidan. pic.twitter.com/EjDxNLi7r9

Medics just pronounced this man dead on Maidan. I'm here. #Ukraine #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/nawQsAgmd3

At least 20 police captured by protesters and being held behind stage at maidan now. #euromaidan #Ukraine

Protesters stripping captured police of gear, weapons. The police look like kids. None can be older than 20s.

BBC via Twitter: Some Ukrainian athletes to leave Sochi Winter Olympics following "unrest & violence within their country" - Intl Olympic Committee #Kiev

ABC News Moscow reporter Kirit Radia via Twitter:

Ukrainian Bogdana Matsotska withdraws frm #Sochi2014. "In solidarity w the fighters on the barricades...we refuse further performance" #Kiev

Ukrainian skier withdraws from #Sochi2014 over #Kiev killings: "outraged by recent actions of President of #Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych"

[21twelve]

following on twitter: Blogary ‏@Blogary_ 1m RT @EastOfBrussels: #Ukraine: captured policemen on #Maidan stage reportedly proclaim that their officers ran away and left them behind... also on live camera: http://espreso.tv/stream I saw a line of 10-20 policemen being marched away by protesters before the twitter post. Lots of dead and injured protesters as well. But the protesters have expanded their territory, and look to be regrouping, gathering rubble in bags, etc. On the twitter feed there was a cartoon of two large men on a rope having a tug-of-war, with two smaller figures caught up in a tangle of rope in the middle. I think that is a good way of looking at the protesters/police. And who know who is behind this and what it will lead to.

[no-to-illegals]

Thanks kristinn. Stayed up late for this report. You did not disappoint.

[wiggen]

This is current? Truce not holding?

[kristinn]

Yes, happening today. The truce did not hold.

[SpaceBar]

It can’t happen here.

[kristinn]

You’re welcome.

[21twelve]

http://espreso.tv/stream

Not sure why my earlier post got all messed up. Live feed of the square. They are still moving wounded, and I saw another file of 5 police being led off by the protesters.

[21twelve]

Twitter claims captured 60 police. Police claim leaders fled - leaving their men behind.

[no-to-illegals]

Thank you 21twelve ... current time in Kiev is nearing 11 a.m. Thursday

[21twelve]

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ukraine&src=hash&f=realtime

Twitter feed. Of course anyone can post anything, so who knows what is true. But:

Claims that police have left - soldiers remain. Announcing from the protest stage that if the protesters try to attack the parliament they will be shot.

[no-to-illegals]

on the live feed am hearing words similar to sniper warnings. Am seeing no snipers in the live feed though. Maybe is a general warning if protesters are privy to live feed or to hearing the speaker.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Three Ukrainian lessons for the United States
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3124919/posts

[21twelve]

From the older twitter feeds it sounds like the protesters are blaming the flare-up on police snipers shooting after the “truce”. Lots of seemingly dead protesters were shown on the ground.

[no-to-illegals]

Thanks 21twelve. Am doing some searches and looking for info. Did not find that though. If the police stood down, they may turn around and go back against the soldiers. Looks extremely volatile and many *ifs* in play.

[tcrlaf]

A Russian Minister on PressTV (Iran) blaming the West, saying “the West”(meaning the Obama libs in Washington) are backing the same people that supported the Nazi’s, and blaming Russia and “the Jews” for all of Ukraine’s economic problems.

Wow...
This could get “interesting”, especially if President Spineless Mom-Jeans is threatening things.

On a related note, notice how much NBC has been attacking Russia and Putin in the last two weeks?

[no-to-illegals]

NBC

from what I watched, it appeared to me as if nbc was supporting putin early and giving him high praise. Has nbc done a 180 or did I miss something?

[21twelve]

“..supported the Nazi’s, and blaming Russia and “the Jews” for all of Ukraine’s economic problems.”

“History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.”

[no-to-illegals]

_resident Spineless

Also saw report on nbc of our _resident making threats of consequences ... whatever that meant. From obama, who knows. And then there were the flexible comments from obama, on the open mic. Could this be more of obama's flexibility?

[Nextrush]

The latest BBC story just posted says “At least five people have been killed in renewed clashes between police and protestors in central Kiev after a truce agreed on Wednesday broke down. .Some live rounds have been fire but it is not clear by whom. Protestors are throwing petrol bombs, while police are using water cannon.”