zReportage.com Story of the Week # 516 - Faces of EuroMaidan - Launched March 4, 2014 - Ukraine is in turmoil after its bloodiest week in decades. Days of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and police have resulted in parliament voting to oust President Yanukovych. The protests broke out after Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013 in favor of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been abandoned, poured into central Kiev for peaceful demonstrations. For many people, they were less about Europe than about getting rid of a president who they believed was clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow. There are fears that the southern region of Crimea could become a battleground between forces loyal to Ukraine and Russia.
Picture Essay by Jacob Balzani Loov and Michal Burza.
© zReportage.com Story of the Week # 516 - Faces of EuroMaidan - Launched March 4, 2014 - Ukraine is in turmoil after its bloodiest week in decades. Days of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and police have resulted in parliament voting to oust President Yanukovych. The protests broke out after Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013 in favor of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been abandoned, poured into central Kiev for peaceful demonstrations. For many people, they were less about Europe than about getting rid of a president who they believed was clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow. There are fears that the southern region of Crimea could become a battleground between forces loyal to Ukraine and Russia.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
January 25, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A demonstrator hides behind a shield on the front lines. The situation began in November, when the opposition hit the streets angry about Yanukovych's backpedaling from a trade pact with the European Union.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
January 25, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A demonstrator is tired after clashes in the front lines on Hrushovskoho street.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
Jan 25, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A medic with a steel stick on the front lines of Hrushovskoho street.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Press
February 2, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Protesters sit by a fire as a man talks on a cell phone near the frontline on Hrushevsk'koho Street. Mass anti-government protests in the center of Kiev continue. The frontline is covered in snow as the tense standoff continues on Hrushevskoho Street near Dynamo Stadium, a few blocks from the epicenter at Maidan Square (Independence Square).
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 4, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Helmeted and armed with a big stick, the ski masked protester, wearing a hoodie that reads 'Soviet' in red is ready whatever is next. Ukraine's parliament adopted tougher security laws against public marches, as tension rises between anti-government occupy movement and soldiers. The frontline is covered in snow as the tense standoff continues on Hrushevskoho Street near Dynamo Stadium and Maidan Square (Independence Square) in downtown Kiev.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 13, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Protesters chant slogans outside the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting in protest against the 'oligarchic monopolization of broadcasting' and biased coverage of political trial in the country.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 14, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Protestors march from the main square across the center to picket outside the Parliament building. Protests have gripped Ukraine since the government rejected a far-reaching accord with the EU in favor of stronger ties with Russia in November 2013.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 14, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A policeman observes the anti-government protesters picketing the Prosecutor General building. More than 30 different groups that compose the self-defense units of Maidan square marched together across the center of Kiev to picket the Prosecutor General building.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/ZUMA Wire/ZUMA Wire
February 18, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - The self-defense units of Independence Square marched toward Marinski Park to demonstrate their power during a parliament meeting. Activists pelted officers with cobblestones and fireworks, to which police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 18, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - The self-defense units of Independence Square marched toward Marinski Park to demonstrate their power during a parliament meeting. Activists pelted officers with cobblestones and fireworks, to which police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 18, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Protestors take cover from tear gas. She is rushing to escape, together with the self-defense units, after they have been defeated in Marinski Park and forced to retreat across the city.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 18, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - The self-defense units of Independence Square marched toward Marinski Park to demonstrate their power during a parliament meeting. Activists pelted officers with cobblestones and fireworks, to which police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 18, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - An elderly man, wearing a dust mask is concerned. He rushes to escape, together with the self-defense units, after they have been defeated in Marinski Park and forced to retreat across the city.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 19, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine -A woman helps prepare molotov cocktails. Police attacked during protesters yesterday afternoon and at least 26 people died.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 19, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A protester finishes a soft drink to empty it and make it ready to be filled with fuel for use as a weapon.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 19, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine -The occupation of Independence Square continues. People have destroyed the cobblestone to make stones to thrown and build molotov cocktails.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 19, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A definant man stands in Maidan Square drapped in a Ukraine blue and gold flag with smoke and soldiers in background. The occupation of Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) continues. Ukraine's President Yanukovich has tagged the occupiers as terrorists.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 19, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A young girl observes the barricades.Violent clashes between protesters and police erupted, leaving at least 26 people dead and many more wounded. Just before midnight Wednesday, Ukraine's president declared a truce.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 20, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A man cries after a medic covers the dead body of his friend with the Ukrainian flag after he was killed by soldiers. Riot Police shot at protestors killing at least 75.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 20, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A priest makes way for young soldiers as demonstrators block a bus with young soldiers in front of barricades on Instytutska street.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 20, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A protester protects himself with a shield on the front lines.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 20, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Protesters protect themselves with helmets on the new front lines near Insitutzkaya street under the threat of snipers.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 20, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - In a hotel, a medical doctor observes an operation of a protester who is in critical condition after being hit by a sniper.
© Jacob Balzani Loov/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
February 22, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Demonstrators celebrate victory over Yanukovych two days after violent fighting on Instytutska street.
© Michal Burza/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire
