The Square’s paved pedestrian area was ripped up to be used as stones for throwing at riot police.

An artist paints the riot police on top of a burnt out bus at the first barricade on Hrushevskoho St.

Originally unrest started with right wing Ukrainian Nationalists. As time went on a greater part of the protesters became made up of middle class Ukrainians, motivated by ending corruption and a series of tax measures designed to put smaller family owned companys out of business in favour of the huge oligarch businessmen loyal to the then presdient Viktor Yanukovych. Even so the Right Wing protesters maintain a significant proportion.

The national anthem resounds around Independence Square.

Volunteers deliver sandwiches & hot drinks. The massive support network is the foundations of Euromaidan

A light dusting on snow covers the barricades through a very cold January night in Kiev.

Following a government offensive protesters were recouperating. On the evening of the 19th February Ukraine was precariously balanced on an knife edge.

Protesters advance leaving scorched earth in their wake.

Right at the front the injured and bodies of the dead, beyond the reach of medical teams, cannot be evacuted. This particular charge forward towards the parliament buildings was the most costly of the Euromaidan Protests in terms of human life. It was impossible to know this at the time but this exact place on this street on this day was the very tip of the fulcrum between the world’s biggest powers. By the following day the then government in Kiev had fled leaving a new power in Ukraine.

Protester hides behind shield at the first barricade. Moments later someone behind him was shot

As the riot police switch to live ammunition the helmets used by protesters offer liitle protection.

Rubber tyres and molotov cocktails. Probably the two most significant weapons of the Euromaidan protesters.

Priests hiding behind shields.

Rumours abound about where snipers are shooting from.

Blood on the streets in Kiev during a protester offensive.

Woman recognises one of the protesters killed.

A protester grips a necklace or lucky charm, looking up to the windows of the Ukrainian Hotel where there are rumoured to be snipers shooting from.

Protesters moving around crouched down behind shields.

Serenity rules in this peaceful corner as gunshots and riots continue.