11 December 2013 Euromaidan assault
{{Short description|Civil conflict incident in Kyiv}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 11 December 2013 police assault on Euromaidan
| partof = Euromaidan
| image = Groups of protesters face a deployment of riot police during the evacuation operations. Kiev. December 10, 2013.jpg
| caption = Police clash with protesters on the night of 10 December
| date = 10–12 December 2013
| place = Kyiv, Ukraine
| coordinates =
| causes = Police attempt to clear Maidan
| goals = Clearing the Euromaidan Protest
| methods = Protesting, raiding, civil disobedience
| result = Police pushed back
| side1 = Maidan protesters
| side2 =
| side3 =
|howmany1=Kyiv:
400,000–800,000 protesters{{cite news|last=Whitmore|first=Brian|title=Putin's Growing Threat Next Door|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/12/putins-growing-threat-next-door/282103/|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=6 December 2013}}
12,000 "self-defense sotnia"{{cite news|url= https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-monday-dec16-live-updates-333739.html|title=EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine – Dec. 16|newspaper=Kyiv Post| date=15 December 2013|access-date=15 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://euromaidanpr.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/the-council-of-maidan-self-defense-organizes-united-revolutionary-army-throughout-ukraine/ |title=The Council of Maidan Self-Defense Organizes "United Revolutionary Army" throughout Ukraine {{pipe}} Euromaidan PR |publisher=Euromaidanpr.wordpress.com |date=8 February 2014 |access-date=3 March 2014}}
| howmany2 =
- 4,000 Berkut
- 1,000 Internal Troops
- 3,000–4,000 titushky{{cite news|url=https://www.unian.net/politics/875021-v-mariinskom-parke-sobralos-okolo-3-4-tyisyach-titushek-nardep.html|script-title=uk:Мариинском парке собралось около 3–4 тысяч "титушек" – нардеп|trans-title=Mariinsky park were about 3–4 thousand "titushek" – People's Deputy|newspaper=UNIAN|date=22 January 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014|language=uk}}
| howmany3 =
| casualties1 = Some injured
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
| fatalities =
| injuries =
| arrests =
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| casualties_label =
| notes =
}}
The assault of Euromaidan by security forces on 11 December 2013 was an attempt by Viktor Yanukovych's government to break up the Euromaidan protest through a night assault using Berkut special police units and interior ministry troops. Their tactics included the displacement of frontal peaceful protesters from lightly barricaded camps at the Independence Square and part of Khreshchatyk Street which is near Bessarabska Square.
The government claimed the need to maintain public order and the enforcement of a decision made by the Pecherskyi District Court, that was read by state bailiffs to the protesters. However, it was later established that such a procedure was illegal, as state executors only had the right to read decisions until 10pm. The court order was also explicit in the fact that Vitali Klitschko was forbidden to hinder citizens moving along the main streets. Vitali Klitschko himself was not aware of this decision, nor was he given the opportunity to appeal it.{{cite web|title=СИЛОВИКИ ПРОРВАЛИСЯ НА МАЙДАН|url=http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/11/7006027/|access-date=2014-04-22|archive-date=2013-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215011300/http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/11/7006027/|url-status=dead}} People responsible for the assault against the protesters have not been identified.
Events
=Beginning of the assault=
The Berkut special police units began their attempt to clear up Euromaidan at 1:02 am. The Berkut soldiers began to break down the barricades on Instytutska Street, while starting a fight with "Freedom" party deputies Ruslan Koshulynskyi, Oleksii Kaida, Andrii Mishchenko and Oleh Osuhovskyi. Two of the deputies sustained injuries on their faces and bodies.
At 1:33 a.m. Andriy Shevchenko informed the protesters that Berkut forces were going to break the barricades from the side of Mykhailivska Square.СИЛОВИКИ ПРОРВАЛИСЯ НА МАЙДАН Українська Правда, 11 грудня 2013 р. Violent fights occurred in the Square as the Berkut started destroying the barricade on Instytutska Street, and Titushky started plundering the camp. Although the government concentrated a large number of security forces around the square, protesters did not give up and their number eventually grew. Berkut used tear gas on the protesters and the clouds of smoke were visible over the crowd as reports about arrested and injured people, including MPs, were being aired in the news. Calls for the mass mobilization of Kyiv citizens to the Maidan were spread and many people responded to the call.{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2013/12/11/7005267/|title=ШТУРМ БАРИКАД. 11 грудня. НІЧ ТА РАНОК СПРОТИВУ - Українська правда|work=Українська правда|access-date=23 October 2014}}
=Main assault=
The Berkut suspended their assault and protesters were given shields, which were obtained from the Berkut. The Berkut began to regroup and move against the protesters once again. Unarmed protesters with linked arms had been holding the Euromaidan defense line for three hours against the large mass of Berkut from the Instytutska street side of the square.{{cite web|url=http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aronets|title=Аронець live (Svoye.TV)|work=Ustream|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212072748/http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aronets|url-status=dead}} The number of people at Euromaidan grew, but the leaders of Berkut were also trying to regroup their forces in order to attack from the other side. Several titushky (thugs) sprang out from the Prorizna street and started to attack people with the intent to organize a hash.{{cite web|url=https://hromadske.tv/|title=Головна сторінка|access-date=23 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022235321/http://www.hromadske.tv/|archive-date=22 October 2014}} There were more than 15 thousand people on the Maidan at this time. The Berkut continued trying to break into the Trade Unions Building. With the number of people on the Maidan increasing, the Berkut came closer to the Maidan and tried to encircle it.File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 108.jpg
=Bells of the Maidan=
As 4,000 Berkut soldiers attacked the square, the bell-ringer of the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery Ivan Sydor{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/12/10/december-11-2013-the-bell-ringer-of-st-michaels/|title=December 11, 2013: the bell ringer of St. Michael's {{!}}|last=Ukrainian media sources|date=2016-12-10|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}} (of the UOC-KP{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/state/church_state_relations/74795/|title=Прес-секретаря ПЦУ, дзвонаря Майдану, нагороджено орденом "За заслуги" III ступеня|date=20 February 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-02-20}}), rang the bells in alarm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rfi.fr/europe/20131225-ukraine-ivan-sydor-heros-manifestants-pro-europeens|title=Ukraine: Ivan Sydor, héros des manifestants pro-européens|date=2013-12-25|website=RFI|language=fr|access-date=2019-03-06}} The bells rang constantly from 1am to 5am, "urging people to go to the main square of the capital and support the protesters who were threatened by Yanukovych's security forces." 8 hours after the assault had begun, Maidan self-defense units stabilized the Euromaidan perimeter by pushing the Berkut fighters back beyond the barricades.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25196572.html|title=Церква засудила дії правоохоронців в ніч на середу на Майдані|work=Радіо Свобода|access-date=23 October 2014}}
Aftermath
The forceful assault of the peaceful protesters is mostly seen by observers as unreasonable. Observers have stated that if Yanukovych simply let the protesters be, the demonstrations would have died out.{{Cite book|title=Pluralism by Default: Weak Autocrats and the Rise of Competitive Politics|last=Way|first=Lucan|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|year=2015|isbn=9781421418124|location=Baltimore|pages=1886}} Due to the violent and illegal crackdown by authorities, the demonstration proved to be a success. The warning alarm system of the National Resistance Headquarters enabled activists to come by cars, public transport and some taxis gave free rides. The illegal court order served by the assaulting forces was not executed and the government did not attempt to enforce it again.
Ultimately, the Euromaidan protest and its crackdown contributed to the collapse of Yanukovych's government in February 2014. Scholars noted that the demonstration showed an unprecedented tenacity and self-organization on the part of the protesters - phenomena that are considered unique in post-Soviet mass mobilization.{{Cite book|title=Democratisation in the 21st Century: Reviving Transitology|last=Mohamedou|first=Mohammad-Mahmoud|last2=Sisk|first2=Timothy|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781138673823|location=London|pages=35}} Specifically, this aspect also gave rise to an emergent volunteer movement and the rise in activism of civil society groups in Ukraine. The majority of the protesters were not affiliated with any political organization.
The Euromaidan protest also has bearing on the Russian response to the protest and Yanukovych ouster. Its annexation of Crimea and its military incursion into Ukraine were activities that - for a number of observers - indicate a fear of having to contend with "a Maidan of its own, about exercising control in its 'spheres of interests and influence' and about contradictions between East and West, as perceived by Russia."{{Cite book|title=Aftermath of the Ukrainian Crisis|last=Manoli|first=Panagiota|publisher=Routledge|year=2017|isbn=9781138684744|location=London}}
On 20 February 2019, priest Ivan Sydor, who had rung the bell of the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, received the Ukrainian Order of Merit of the third class "[f]or civic courage, selfless defence of the constitutional principles of democracy, human rights and freedoms, discovered during the Revolution of Dignity, fruitful public and volunteering activities".{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/392019-26082|script-title=uk:УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ No. 39/2019|date=20 February 2019|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk|access-date=2019-02-20}} On 4 April 2019, it was reported that Ivan Sydor had received his Ukrainian Order of Merit of the third class from Yevhen Nyshchuk, the Ukrainian Minister for Culture.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-culture/2674529-nisuk-vruciv-dzvonaru-majdanuorden-za-zaslugi.html|script-title=uk:Нищук вручив "дзвонарю Майдану" орден|date=4 April 2019|website=www.ukrinform.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-04-06}}
Gallery
File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 110.jpg|Crowd of Berkutians on Institutskaya Street ready to attack
File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 105.jpg|Maidan defenders on Institutskaya Street are ready to defend themselves
File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 102.jpg|The onset of the storming of barricades
File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 003.jpg|Defenders of the Maidan are holding back the onset of Berkut
Euromaidan Night of 11 December 012.jpg|Barricade protection
File:Euromaidan Night of 11 December 6.jpg|Golden eagle shield
File:Атака на КМДА, 10 грудня 2013-03.jpg|Reflecting the attack near the KSCA
File:Cityhallhose.JPG|Protesters pour siloviki water from the KSCA premises
File:Euromaidan Kiev 2013.12.11 22-04.JPG|Restored after storming the barricade on the street. Khreshchatyk