February 2014 Euromaidan riots

2014 Ukrainian revolution
Part of the Euromaidan
Protesters fighting government forces on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kiev on 18 February 2014.
Date	18–23 February 2014 (5 days)
Location	Mariinsky Park and Instytutska Street, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kiev, Ukraine 50°27′0″N 30°31′27″E / 50.45000°N 30.52417°E / 50.45000; 30.52417
Goals	Ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych Restoration of the Constitution as it was between 2004 and 2010
Methods	Protesting, rioting, civil disobedience
Result	Euromaidan/Opposition victory President Yanukovych overthrown. Yanukovych becomes a fugitive and flees to Russia. Restoration of the Constitution as it was between 2004 and 2010 Yulia Tymoshenko released from prison. Repeal of the "law on regional languages", resulting in again making Ukrainian the sole state language at all administrative levels (vetoed by interim-President Turchynov) Dismissal of Ministers of the acting Second Azarov Government 50 suspects, including top officials, are charged with organising the killing of protesters. Berkut special force is dissolved Mass protests in East and South Ukraine against the government in Kiev Nationwide destruction of Soviet monuments Beginning of Crimean crisis, pro-Russian unrest, War in Donbass, and Russian military intervention in Ukraine
Parties to the civil conflict
Euromaidan protesters Euromaidan militants (Sotnia) Right Sector Ministry of Internal Affairs Berkut riot police Special Company of Berkut Tiger special forces Interior Troops of Ukraine Security Service of Ukraine SBU Alpha Group Titushky Ukrainian Front
Lead figures
Arseniy Yatsenyuk Vitali Klitschko Oleh Tyahnybok Petro Poroshenko Yuriy Lutsenko Oleksandr Turchynov Yulia Tymoshenko Andriy Parubiy Andriy Sadovyi Arsen Avakov Dmytro Yarosh Ruslana Viktor Yanukovych Serhiy Arbuzov Vitaliy Zakharchenko Oleksandr Yefremov Andriy Klyuyev Hennadiy Kernes Mikhail Dobkin Viktor Pshonka Olena Lukash Yuriy Boyko Leonid Kozhara Dmytro Tabachnyk
Number
Kiev: 400,000–800,000 protesters 12,000 "self-defense sotnia" Across Ukraine: 50,000 (Lviv) 20,000 (Cherkasy) 10,000+ (Ternopil) other cities and towns Law enforcement in Kiev: 4,000 Berkut 1,000 Internal Troops 3,000–4,000 titushky Pro-government/anti-EU demonstrations: 20,000–60,000 (Kiev) 40,000 (Kharkiv) 15,000 (Donetsk) 10,000 (Simferopol) 2,500 pro-Russia (Sevastopol)
Casualties
Deaths: 100 Missing:166 Injured: 1,100+ Arrested: 77 Deaths: 13 Injured: 272 Captured: 67
Deaths: 113 Injuries: 1,811 Ministry of Healthcare totals (16 April 2014 @6:00 LST) Dead & missing during entire conflict: 780 Medical volunteer estimates

Euromaidan/Opposition victory

Kiev:
400,000–800,000 protesters
12,000 "self-defense sotnia"

Law enforcement in Kiev:

3,000–4,000 titushky
Pro-government/anti-EU demonstrations:
20,000–60,000 (Kiev)
40,000 (Kharkiv)
15,000 (Donetsk)
10,000 (Simferopol)

Deaths: 113
Injuries: 1,811
Ministry of Healthcare totals (16 April 2014 @6:00 LST)

The Ukrainian revolution of 2014 (also known as the Euromaidan Revolution or Revolution of Dignity; Ukrainian: Революція гідності, Revoliutsiia hidnosti) took place in Ukraine in February 2014, when a series of violent events involving protesters, riot police, and unknown shooters in the capital, Kiev, culminated in the ousting of Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych. This was followed by a series of changes in Ukraine's sociopolitical system, including the formation of a new interim government, the restoration of the previous constitution, and a call to hold impromptu presidential elections within months.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine endured years of corruption, mismanagement, (years long) lack of economic growth, currency devaluation, and problems to secure funding from public markets. Successive Ukrainian governments in the 2000s sought a closer relationship with the European Union (EU). One of the measures meant to achieve this was an association agreement with the European Union, which would have provided Ukraine with funds in return for liberalising reforms. President Yanukovych announced his intention to sign the agreement, but ultimately refused to do so at the last minute. This sparked a wave of protests called the "Euromaidan" movement. During these protests Yanukovych signed a treaty and multibillion-dollar loan with Russia. The Ukrainian security forces cracked down on the protesters, further inflaming the situation and resulting in a series of violent clashes in the streets of Kiev. As tensions rose, Yanukovych fled to Russia and did not return.