Cleanup operation in Kiev (Maj5)

(BRUSSELS2) 3 dead, then 5, 9, 14, 20 then 25 dead. The death toll continues to rise in Ukraine. In Kiev, the clashes between the demonstrators and the police, in particular the famous Berkouts, were violent during the day (February 18) and continued throughout the night. The demonstration bringing together 10.000 people skidded as an ultimatum was issued by the Ministry of the Interior and the special services (SBU) to clear the main axes. Demonstrators and law enforcement exchanging molotov cocktails and cobblestones, tear gas canisters and other rubber bullets.

You can follow the situation through opposition television, available on the internet, Hromadske tv

Balance sheet increasing over the hours

At the beginning of the evening, we first deplored at least 9 dead - including several by bullets -. The opposition medical center on Maidan square reported a death toll of 8 (including 2 civilians found near Khreschatyk metro station), and more than 100 injured among the demonstrators " many of them in critical condition ". 10 people in particular are in critical condition, says my colleague Nataliya Gumenyuk from Homadske television. The Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior reports a policeman killed in a "bullet in the neck" (*). Report revised upwards on the side of the police at 22 p.m., to 6 police officers killed, 159 injured, 35 seriously. Around midnight, the head of the opposition medical center, Oleh Musiy, also announces a death toll rising to 20. " At least ! we wrote then. “Because this balance sheet which could still increase in the hours to come. In the early morning of Wednesday (February 19), the Ministry of Health reported a death toll of 25: 9 police officers, 1 journalist and 15 civilians and opponents.

NB: At 18 p.m. (local time), the military hospital center reported having treated 22 law enforcement officers for injuries to the chest, extremities or face. One was operated for a wound by a 9 mm revolver”. Two are in a " bad state ", says the statement of the army.

The High Representative's 3-point proposal

A Brussels, the High Representative said to herself “deeply concerned about the further escalation of violence in Kyiv and the reported casualties” in a press release published at 17 p.m. (the death toll was then 5 dead). “I condemn all forms of violence, including against public buildings or parties” said Catherine Ashton. She also urges "Ukraine's leaders to tackle the root causes of the crisis" and proposes its solution : "the formation of a new coalition government, progress on constitutional reform and the preparation of transparent and democratic presidential elections". “The EU is ready to help Ukraine in this process” she recalled. NATO Secretary General AF Rasmussen also said " worried of renewed violence.

Condemnation in Paris and Warsaw, Berlin and London and elsewhere

A Paris, Laurent Fabius, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also condemned "the resumption of violence in kyiv and the indiscriminate use of force". A Warsaw, the Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine was "summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was told of the “deep concern” of the Polish authorities at the rising tensions in Kyiv today, which has claimed more human lives, and “at the use of firearms. Polish Foreign Ministry urges both parties to the Ukraine conflict to refrain from further acts of violence ».

A Berlin, Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented in a communicated the " dramatic hours in Kyiv. " The fact that there were deaths and injuries during the day shocked us. “Condemning” all forms of violence "wherever they come from", he recalled that " it is now up to the security forces to ensure that de-escalation takes place and that the use of force is not yet developed. » And to warn: anyone who makes responsible choices that lead to bloodshed" will have to answer for it, calling in a way for Europe to put in place "personal sanctions targeted at people who would have acted in this direction. AT London, the Minister for Europe, D. Lidington, believes that “ the use of force to clear Maidan Square could have very serious consequences for bilateral relations”.

A Stockholm, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wondered. "Everyone in Ukraine has a responsibility to ensure a peaceful and non-violent solution after the tragic deaths of these days" he said in a tweet. AT Helsinki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Errki Tuomioja considers in a communicated that the situation is extremely serious ". " Ukraine must solve the problems in a democratic process”. A Bratislava, Minister Miroslav Lajčák emphasizes how  violence is a deadly end for both sides in Ukraine. A broad dialogue at the level of society on the causes of discontent is necessary”. 

In Vilnius, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius "demands an immediate end to the violence, a thorough investigation of all incidents" and “bringing those responsible to justice”. Il "urge" thus the Ukrainian government and opposition "to immediately resume negotiations to form a new government and implement constitutional reform, as the protracted political crisis in the country spirals out of control."

(Loreline Merelle and Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Comments : The optimists who counted on an appeasement of the situation must be disappointed. But that was to be expected. Minds are not ready. The opposition is not structured. And Ukrainian power has no interest in being "soft", except to please European or Western governments. And since they have little to offer him... In a purely internal logic of conserving power, he has, on the contrary, an interest in tensing up, straining the situation. Leaves from time to time, to give one or two pledges here and there. This tactic has an advantage: it forces opponents to bend or radicalize, in both cases to divide. It forces Westerners to recognize that the wrongs are shared. What most European Union governments fear above all is a crystallization of the crisis in Ukraine, slippages, and ultimately harmful instability. In the purest tradition of realism in international relations, everyone will prefer order to anarchy, a small corrupt autocracy to a poisonous atmosphere. The Europeans are, in the end, quite disarmed. They have neither the weapon of gas, nor the financial incentive and even fewer troops to mass at the borders. In short, for lack of carrots and sticks, we deplore or we condemn... So far, the European Union does not even seem ready to follow the example of Poland, by summoning the Ukrainian ambassador. We'll see this Wednesday (NGV)

NB: the question of Ukraine should be put on the agenda of the usual meeting of the ambassadors of the COPS - the political and security committee of the EU - which is being held this Wednesday (19 February).

(*) It could be a fire from the demonstrators but also a "friendly fire" in other words a shot coming from the own forces of order

(Update) Reviewed at 21 p.m. and 23 p.m., midnight, 24 a.m. and Wed. 1 balance sheet revised upwards. New European reactions

Read also: Deaths in Ukraine: the European Union moves?