Ukraine protests erupt in violence leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured (PHOTOS)
Deputies leave Kyiv’s Parliament as Maidan self-defense activists stand guard outside on Feb. 22, 2014. The Yanukovych regime appeared close to collapse as the emboldened opposition took control of key government and parliament positions and voted to immediately free its jailed leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces erupted in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Tuesday, leaving a dozens of people dead and hundreds more injured.
Police used stun and smoke grenades and rubber bullets to stop thousands of stone-throwing protesters marching on the parliament where lawmakers were expected to debate changes to the constitution.
The party headquarters of embattled President Viktor Yanukovych were also attacked.
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But the opposition was blocked from submitting its proposed changes that would have restored the 2004 constitution and curbed the powers of Yanukovych, leading to scuffles inside the parliament.
Security forces gave protesters a deadline of 6 p.m. local time to stop the unrest, warning they would then "use all the possible methods" to end it.
The sudden escalation in violence, which reportedly left between three and seven people dead, also came hours after Moscow agreed to provide Kyiv the $2 billion in aid it had been holding back.
The money is part of the $15 billion in loans that Russia pledged back in December to help the struggling Ukrainian economy.
The Ukrainian protest movement began in November when Yanukovych walked away from a trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.