Echoing Joseph Stalin’s famous words to the Russian army during the invasion of Stalingrad, the leader of the Kiev anti-government protest has said his people will not leave.
They will not falter and they will not “take one step backwards”
Via BBC:
Loud explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and water cannon have been deployed.
During the day, at least nine people were killed, including two policemen, as protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks.
Security forces had earlier given protesters a deadline of 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest.
Police had surrounded Independence Square – known locally as the Maidan – which has been the scene of a mostly peaceful protest camp since November.
Earlier, opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk had insisted the protest camp would “not retreat a single step from here, from this Maidan”.
“We have nowhere to retreat to, Ukraine is behind us, and Ukraine’s future is ahead of us. No fear, only faith in our strength, only solidarity and unity, only mutual support.”