WAR Against the People, in Downtown Kyiv Today: Feb. 20 – Afternoon 12:00 to 12:57

CLASHES BECAME WARFARE AGAINST PEOPLE’S SELF-DEFENSE IN DOWNTOWN KYIV – ongoing updates.

This morning, Feb. 20, despite the truce announced last night, clashes were renewed on Maidan, in the center of Kyiv. It is as yet unclear who fired the first live shots, varying reports circulate.

Some reports say that the first live shots were fired from the Conservatory roof, which was behind law enforcement cordons. Since the Conservatory lies behind police lines, it would have been extremely difficult for protesters to take firing positions there. This gives ground to the assumption that the killing shots were a purposeful provocation by government forces.cAnother report says clashes were renewed when Berkut started throwing Molotov cocktails and/or grenades at the Conservatory. As protesters moved to put out the fires, snipers started shooting – at first, from the police lines, then from behind them. Many questions still remain as to who started killing law enforcement officers first.

As of 11 am, snipers are at work. Over ten people reported dead.

Events of this afternoon, continued from MORNING EVENTS, 09:08 to 10:52 and 11:00 to 12:00.

12:00 – Safety Promised to Any Surrendering Police Forces

Announcement from the stage – prisoners are not to be tortured, under no circumstances. Police forces should be able to surrender safely.

Ruslana shows mobile phone perforated by bullet and a live grenade found on the ground, undetonated

A Bible that was found after the fires and fights with Berkut by the Independence Monument. Undamaged by fire.

Emergency declaration of the “Right Sector” and Self-Defense units of Maidan:

Dmytro Yarosh:
If there is a cease-fire of units of the Internal Defense MIA and immediate abolition in parliament of Yanukovych’s dictatorial powers we will make every effort to stop the bloodshed and ensure the safety of senior positions.
Signed,
Dmitro Jarosh, Leader of “Right Sector”, Andrew Parubiy, Leader of Maidan Self-Defense

12:15 – CONSCRIPT SOLDIERS REFUSE TO HELP BERKUT

Yuri Starov via Facebook:
SOS! URGENT! Military Unit 3030, Vozdukhoflotskiy Avenue!
Berkut are fighting SOLDIER CONSCRIPTS WHO REFUSE TO GO AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE. THE GUYS NEED HELP!!

Berkut Officer from Donetsk Tells Brother – “Leave, or I Will Kill You”

Protester, who dropped out of police training for moral reasons, tells that is brother is a Berkut officer, on the front line. When asked to refuse to follow government orders, the officer told his brother, “We will crush you all. Leave, or I will kill you, too.”

12:30 – More Reports of Medics Shot by Snipers

Protester reports that a sniper shot a medic.
Reports of more snipers near Mykhailivsky Cathedral, where a medical station is operating.
A female volunteer of Maidan’s Medical Corps with a gunshot wound, reports Espreso.TV

In Lviv, anti-tank cannons are installed to counteract the “anti-terorrist” operation. PHOTO

Danylo Tkanko, reported by Censor.net:
In addition to barricades, the streets of Lviv now have anti-tank cannons. Blogger posts photograph:
пушки

Titushkas From Kirovograd Surrender

Arsen Avakov via Facebook:
Deputies Oleg Medunitsya, Mykhailo Apostol , Ihor Brychenko, while patrolling the upper section of the government quarter, accepted the surrender of titushkas from Kirovograd.
Video with Oleg Medunitsya:

12:57 – Berkut Using Subway Lines

Ruslana announces from Maidan stage: the subway in Kiv is working fine, but it is only carrying Berkut officers.