The history of Ukrainian 2014 revolution, more commonly known there as Euromaidan, showed that some people can be “bought” for doing inhumane things, while others give all their money, time and even lives for beliefs of thousands in better future. While most of the civilized Ukrainian community was looking forward to signing  the agreement with the European union, the corrupt president decided to fail negotiation regardless all the European politicians trying to over-persuade the Ukrainian leader.

The next morning pro-government political party gathered people on the European square in Kiev, to show the support to the president, and everyone was told that they will get paid 200 hryvnas for coming. This action was against moral principles of many Ukrainians, but an itch for money made many seekers for easy profits show up and actually support the real corruption. At the same day, young people , mostly students got connected via social media and decided to all meet at the Independence Square for peaceful protests. By the late night time, because of multiple reasons, like cold and studying, many of them left, promising to come the next day, and around 500 persistent students were still standing at 4 a.m. At 4.30 all the students with no prior warnings got beaten hard with batons to blood by police special forces called “Berkut”. At the same time, communal vehicles appeared and workers started cleaning the square and preparing foundation for the Christmas tree like nothing happened. Ukrainians woke up and found out what happened during the night, it changed  attitude of thousands and gave a life to new revolution. All those radically minded people gathered on Myhaylivskiy square and by night all the crowd moved back to the Independence square and increased to almost 100 thousand people that wanted Yanukovich to pay for his sins and give up the presidency.

On December 8th presidential party organized protests against the revolution by bringing people from mostly Eastern part of Ukraine, were president had most of proponents, and “buying” them by promising good money for a small favor – supporting president. On Sunday almost half of the million of people joined the national viche (gathering of community members to inform everybody of important events  and come up with a collective planning for the near future) on the Independence square to vote for what they believe in. Some people started blocking entrances to the government block, building barricades and setting up tents, in other words, people were preparing for the long winter and days of waiting.

Next two and a half months people spent waiting,  and fighting for every inch of the central streets with “Berkut” special forces. Many people from all over the country left their jobs, families and moved to live in tents in cold winter believing that they can make the difference. Revolutionists were supported by millions of Ukrainians, who were sending them food, clothes, medication and whatever else was needed in the “small town” of Ukrainian revolution in the heart of the capital. The structure of this town was well-organized: within a few days, there were medical tents, information and announcements desks, tents with food, etc.  Volunteers were guarding all the important entrances, cooking food, improving barricades, taking care of sick people, all depending on skills and preferences.

On the other side of barricades, after police and army refused following presidential orders, the only forces pro-government had left were very well-payed special units of “Berkut” and some people from Eastern Ukraine that were supporting “Russian direction”, therefore president Yanukovich as well.  Presidential party “Partiya Regioniv” organized transportation and provided tents, food, clothes in Mariyinskiy park for people that were willing to support their president for promised 200 hryvnas. However, this didn’t work well: people were fighting for food, cursing each other, were angry and disappointed because some of them got paid just 50 instead promised 200, others didn’t get anything.

Police forces tried multiple times to break the defense of “Praviy sector”, main self-organized forces of the revolution, find the weakest spots and attack in the least expected moments. All the assaults were supported by beating up everyone they could get, no matter what age or gender, but still people could successfully keep the main camp undefeated. Revolutionists were keeping the center of the city safe for everyone, anyone could walk around, eat a dinner for free and sit near the fire place. All the stores in the area were open and untouched, except public buildings that were occupied by people, mostly women and sick people, but kept clean and organized. On the other hand, when policemen were winning control over some buildings, they would violently break windows, doors, and book shelves with books that were organized by activists, destroy all the provision, medications and leave.

On December 31st hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were celebrating the coming of New Year by lighting up their phones while singing Ukrainian National anthem. During Christmas holidays which are in first two weeks of January, the revolution camp was half empty, but still many people with an incredible power of will were not going to give up half way. Meanwhile, government, was trying to make the revolution fade away by chasing important people, torturing and killing them one by one, breaking the cars of the people that were bringing provision to “Praviy Sector” and legalizing ridiculous dictatorial laws. Things got worse when president decided to resort to drastic actions – On February 18th, special forces were now allowed to use traumatic weapons against. Two following days people spent fighting hard against the police that was trying to do anything to break the defense, like water cannons and even armored personnel carries. On the third day police forces realized that they can’t win the fight against the huge amount of people, so they started running away to Hrushevskogo street, where they started shooting unarmed protesters and medics, including women and teenagers. The only thing people had to protect themselves from snipers were wooden shields. Some revolutionists would get shot, but others wouldn’t give up, or leave them dying, people kept walking forward with thin wooden shields that couldn’t protect them from bullets, but would give them hope and belief that the entire nation can’t be stopped. More than a hundred people were killed and lots were injured that day, but thanks to them, revolution succeeded – president ran away to Russia, and the country started restoring from his destructive presidency.

1. “History of Euromaidan” Insider. Web. 27 October 2015
2. “History of Euromaidan: from the peaceful protests to bloody shooting” iPress.ua.21 November 2014. Web. 27 October 2015