Kiev Is Burning. This Is Happening Right Now. Livestream Of The Scene Here. | Thought Catalog

Thousands of Ukrainian government police armed with stun grenades and water cannons attacked an opposition camp today in an attempt to dislodge the protesters. The result is 9 confirmed dead, 2 policemen and 7 opposition members, and large fires in Kiev which seem generally under control at this time. The Associated Press reports:

The police dismantled some of the barricades on the perimeter of Independence Square, and many of the protest tents were set on fire. But the 20,000 demonstrators fought back, armed with rocks, bats and fire bombs, and singing the Ukrainian national anthem.

I Am A Ukrainian, This Needs To Go Viral

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urged the protesters to defend the camp.

“We will not go anywhere from here,” Klitschko told the crowd, speaking from a stage in the square as fires burned around him, releasing huge plumes of smoke into the night sky. “This is an island of freedom and we will defend it,” he said.

Many heeded his call.

In addition to the fighting in the streets of Kiev, there is at least one report that protesters set the police station on fire in the city of Ternopli in retaliation.

Here is the best news summary of what’s happening and below is the livestream from Espreso TV.

Tagged20 Somethings, Authoritarian, Inspirational, Kiev, News, Olympics, Protests, Russia, Sochi, Ukraine, World Events