Government says resolving unrest in Ukraine is ‘futile’ as protests spread beyond …

  • Chilling warning by interior minister Vitali Zakharchenko, comes after almost a week of street violence 
  • Protests began against government’s decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with Europe.
  • Zakharchenko claimed authorities had information activists were ‘hoarding firearms’ at their headquarters
  • Officials warned police could storm Kyiv city hall to free two policemen allegedly captured by demonstrators
  • 100 anti-government protesters attempted to seize Ukraine’s main energy ministry building

By
Daily Mail Reporter


PUBLISHED:

12:58 GMT, 25 January 2014

|
UPDATED:

12:58 GMT, 25 January 2014

Ukraine’s interior minister today warned efforts to solve the country’s crisis without resorting to force were ‘futile’.

The chilling warning by Vitali Zakharchenko, comes after almost a week of street violence in the capital Kyiv against the government’s decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with Europe.

Zakharchenko, who is in charge of the police and one of the figures most despised by the protesters, claimed authorities had information activists were ‘hoarding firearms’ at their headquarters.

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An aerial view of the protest camp in Kyiv's Independence Square. Ukraine's interior minister has warned efforts to solve the country's crisis without resorting to force were 'futile'

An aerial view of the protest camp in Kyiv’s Independence Square. Ukraine’s interior minister has warned efforts to solve the country’s crisis without resorting to force were ‘futile’

He said: ‘The events of the last days in the Ukrainian capital have shown that our attempts to solve the conflict peacefully, without recourse to a confrontation of force, remain futile.’

As anti-government protests spread beyond the capital Kyiv, officials warned that police could storm the Kyiv city hall to free two policemen allegedly captured by demonstrators.

Protesters have occupied the city hall for nearly two months and turned into a makeshift dormitory and headquarters. Protesters deny they are holding the officers.

Riot police stand in line during an anti-government protest in downtown Kyiv. The Ukraine capital has seen almost a week of street violence amid protests against the government's decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with the EU

Riot police stand in line during an anti-government protest in downtown Kyiv. The Ukraine capital has seen almost a week of street violence amid protests against the government’s decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with the EU

A demostrator walks near burning tyres during an anti-government protest in downtown Kyiv. The protest movement is reportedly now spreading beyond the capital

A demostrator walks near burning tyres during an anti-government protest in downtown Kyiv. The protest movement is reportedly now spreading beyond the capital

Prayers: An orthodox priest stands between between police and protestors at the scene of anti-government demonstrations near Dynamo Stadium in Kyiv

Prayers: An orthodox priest stands between between police and protestors at the scene of anti-government demonstrations near Dynamo Stadium in Kyiv

Protesters have occupied Kyiv's city hall for nearly two months and turned it into a makeshift dormitory and headquarters. The government claims they are holding two police officers hostage

Protesters have occupied Kyiv’s city hall for nearly two months and turned it into a makeshift dormitory and headquarters. The government claims they are holding two police officers hostage

Fortifications: Anti-government protesters gather at a barricade at the site of clashes with riot police in Kyiv

Fortifications: Anti-government protesters gather at a barricade at the site of clashes with riot police in Kyiv

A ministry statement warned that police would storm the building if the two officers were not released. It said another officer who had been injured while being seized had been released and was hospitalized in serious condition.

The city hall is only a few hundred metres from both the site of protracted clashes between police and protesters over the past week and Independence Square, where demonstrators have set up an extensive tent camp and conducted round-the-clock protests since early December.

Last night the capital saw yet more violence as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs at police who fought back using with stun grenades and rubber bullets.

Today about 100 anti-government protesters attempted to seize Ukraine’s main energy ministry building in central Kyiv, Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky said.

‘There was an attempt to seize the building. About 100 people came, armed. I went to them and said that if they did not peacefully leave the building, then the whole energy system of Ukraine could collapse,’ Mr Stavytsky said.

A ministry statement warned that police would storm city hall if two police officers were not released. It said another officer who had been injured while being seized had been released and was in serious condition

A ministry statement warned that police would storm city hall if two police officers were not released. It said another officer who had been injured while being seized had been released and was in serious condition

Last night the capital saw yet more violence as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs at police who fought back using with stun grenades and rubber bullets

Last night the capital saw yet more violence as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs at police who fought back using with stun grenades and rubber bullets

Today about 100 anti-government protesters attempted to seize Ukraine's main energy ministry building in central Kyiv, Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky said

Today about 100 anti-government protesters attempted to seize Ukraine’s main energy ministry building in central Kyiv, Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky said

A priest prays in front of riot police as smoke billows from a burning barricade on Hrusevskoho-street in central Kyiv

A priest prays in front of riot police as smoke billows from a burning barricade on Hrusevskoho-street in central Kyiv

He said the protesters left but he had been told they were blocking entry to the building outside.

‘What is taking place is a direct threat to the whole Ukrainian energy system,’ he said.

Hundreds of activists have already occupied City Hall and the agricultural ministry, both close to the energy ministry building, in increasingly violent protests against President Viktor Yanukovich’s rule.

In Vinnitsya, about 110 miles southwest of Kyiv, hundreds of demonstrators stormed the local administration building, Ukrainian news agencies said.

Until the past week, the protests had been centered in Kyiv with only smaller demonstrations elsewhere, but since the Kyiv clashes began on Sunday, a score of local government buildings have been seized in the country’s west, where support for President Viktor Yanukovych is thin.

Yanukovych has refused protesters’ demand to resign and call early elections, offering only minor concessions to the opposition Friday.

Big rallies were expected to take place in the centre of Kyiv this weekend despite promises by Yanukovich to reshuffle the government and promote changes to sweeping anti-protest legislation.

Medieval: A protester dressed in a suit of armour clutches a shield ahead of clashes with riot police in central Kyiv

Medieval: A protester dressed in a suit of armour clutches a shield ahead of clashes with riot police in central Kyiv

Hundreds of activists have occupied City Hall and the agricultural ministry building, in protests against President Viktor Yanukovich's rule

Hundreds of activists have occupied City Hall and the agricultural ministry building, in protests against President Viktor Yanukovich’s rule

Protesters clad in improvised protective gear prepare for a clash with police in central Kyiv, Ukraine

Protesters clad in improvised protective gear prepare for a clash with police in central Kyiv, Ukraine

Face-off: A woman pleads to a line of riot police officers after falling to her knees near the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv today after five days of violent clashes

Face-off: A woman pleads to a line of riot police officers after falling to her knees near the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv today after five days of violent clashes

Uneasy truce: Riot police line up in Kyiv's Independence Square today where anti-government protesters have occupied a government ministry building

Uneasy truce: Riot police line up in Kyiv’s Independence Square today where anti-government protesters have occupied a government ministry building

A basket laden with petrol bombs sits on a frozen Kyiv street. Opposition supporters have advanced their barricades closer to the presidential administration buildings

A basket laden with petrol bombs sits on a frozen Kyiv street. Opposition supporters have advanced their barricades closer to the presidential administration buildings

Though the protest movement – known
as the ‘EuroMaidan’ – is largely peaceful, a hardcore of radicals are
now openly battling police away from the main seat of the protest on
Independence Square.

On
Saturday morning, the clash site was tense, with demonstrators milling
about, many of them bearing clubs, metal rods and large sticks. They
watched as black smoke billowed from a barricade of burning tyres, but
there was no violence.

The
country has come under wide criticism from the West during the protests,
particularly after at least two demonstrators died of gunshot wounds in
the clashes this week.

Vitali
Klitschko, an opposition leader who is a former world heavyweight
boxing champion, declared the only way to end the street protests –
known as the Maidan after the central Kyiv square occupied by
demonstrators – is for Yanukovych to resign.

‘Just
a month ago, the Maidan would have gone home,’ Klitschko told reporters
last night. ‘Today, people are demanding the president’s resignation.’

A protester stand guard on burned out bus that has been filled with tyres to form part of a barricade in downtown Kyiv

A protester stand guard on burned out bus that has been filled with tyres to form part of a barricade in downtown Kyiv

Anti-government protesters warm themselves near a brazier at Independence Square in central Kyiv

Anti-government protesters warm themselves near a brazier at Independence Square in central Kyiv

Stand-off: Protesters have expanded their camp in and around Kyiv's Independence Square during as an uneasy truce appears to be holding

Stand-off: Protesters have expanded their camp in and around Kyiv’s Independence Square during as an uneasy truce appears to be holding

Rows of riot police block off a key street in the Ukraine capital Kyiv. So far talks to resolve the political stalemate appear to have failed

Rows of riot police block off a key street in the Ukraine capital Kyiv. So far talks to resolve the political stalemate appear to have failed

Protestors armed with shields and crude weapons, including sticks and chains, gather on Instytutska Street in downtown Kyiv

Protestors armed with shields and crude weapons, including sticks and chains, gather on Instytutska Street in downtown Kyiv

The
protest law enacted last week appeared to have backfired on Yanukovych,
sparking confrontations in which demonstrators threw stones and
firebombs at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The
violence since Sunday was a harsh contrast to the determined
peacefulness of the anti-government protests that have gripped the
country for the last two months.

The
rallies broke out after Yanukovych scrapped a key treaty with the
European Union in order to secure a bailout loan from Russia. President
Vladimir Putin had pressed hard to keep Ukraine in his nation’s
political and economic orbit, but more Ukrainians favor closer ties with
the 28-nation EU than an new alliance with Russia.

Opposition leader and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, addresses protesters near barricades between police and protesters in central Kyiv last night

Opposition leader and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, addresses protesters near barricades between police and protesters in central Kyiv last night

   

Firearms: A picture taken earlier in the week shows a protester holding a handgun. Last night authorities insisted that two men shot dead in the violence were not killed by police-issue ammunition

Firearms: A picture taken earlier in the week shows a protester holding a handgun. Last night authorities insisted that two men shot dead in the violence were not killed by police-issue ammunition

Fuel: A protester prepares to throw tyres onto a fire separating demonstrators from riot police in central Kyiv today

Fuel: A protester prepares to throw tyres onto a fire separating demonstrators from riot police in central Kyiv today

Standoff: A bare-chested protestor confronts a line of riot police during violent clashes last night. At least two people were killed as demonstrations against the government's decision not to sign a deal with the European Union continued

Standoff: A bare-chested protestor confronts a line of riot police during violent clashes last night. At least two people were killed as demonstrations against the government’s decision not to sign a deal with the European Union continued

Klitschko
said the president appeared to be turning a deaf ear to the
opposition’s key demand of the resignation of the government.

‘I feel how tense the atmosphere is. I feel how great the hopes are,’ he said.

Oleg
Tyagnybok, leader of the Svoboda (Freedom) party, said there was a
proposal to create a buffer zone between protesters and security forces
that would leave the main protest camp on Independence Square untouched
by police.

But when Tyagnybok asked protesters for a show of hands about whether the talks should continue, the answer was negative.

Last
night Ukrainian police insisted that two young men killed during
yesterday’s clashes were not shot by police issue ammunition.

They
claimed Sergei Nigoyan, 20, from Dnipropetrovsk, was killed by a
shotgun round and Mikhail Zhiznevsky, 25, from Belarus was killed by a
hunting bullet.

Firebomb: A demonstrator uses a catapult to fire a Molotov cocktail into lines of riot police in Kyiv's Independence Square

Firebomb: A demonstrator uses a catapult to fire a Molotov cocktail into lines of riot police in Kyiv’s Independence Square

 

The violent protests have been raging in the Ukrainian capital since January 19, following the government's decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with the European Union

The violent protests have been raging in the Ukrainian capital since January 19, following the government’s decision not to sign a deal for closer integration with the European Union

Missiles: A protester aims fireworks at police during clashes, in central Kyiv

Missiles: A protester aims fireworks at police during clashes, in central Kyiv

Thick black smoke from burning tyres engulfed the downtown Ukrainian capital as an ultimatum issued by the opposition to the president to call early election or face street rage was set to expire with no sign of a compromise

Thick black smoke from burning tyres engulfed the downtown Ukrainian capital as an ultimatum issued by the opposition to the president to call early election or face street rage was set to expire with no sign of a compromise

A protester stands at a burning barricade between police and protesters in central Kyiv

A protester stands at a burning barricade between police and protesters in central Kyiv

Three people were reported dead in Kyiv on Wednesday morning, during clashes between police and demonstrators

Three people were reported dead in Kyiv on Wednesday morning, during clashes between police and demonstrators


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