-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.
-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."
-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.
-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.
-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.
-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.
NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv
Many videos are emerging on social media of the scale and extent of the violence. Here's one that appears to show a military vehicle ramming into a barricade.
Ukrainian Olympic Committee President Sergei Bubka is urging both sides in Ukraine's political crisis to halt the violence, saying it is putting the country “on the brink of catastrophe."
Bubka, a former Olympic pole vault champion, issued his call on Wednesday after clashes between police and antigovernment protesters in Kyiv left 25 people dead.
In a statement, Bubka said he was "shocked” by the dramatic development occurring in his country at a time when Ukrainian athletes were competing “peacefully and with honor" at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Olympic Committee said the Ukrainian delegation in Sochi led by Bubka had asked the International Olympic Committee if their athletes could wear black bands in competition to remember the dead.
A video of what appears to be a horrific shooting incident in the central Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi (WARNING: Graphic Content)
15:5219.2.2014
Stunning photos from Ukraine. View them full size here.
Flames And Chaos In Kyiv
1/16A barricade burns on Independence Square in Kyiv on February 19 after unrest continued throughout the night.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
2/16Antigovernment protesters defend themselves with shields as they clash with police on Independence Square on February 19.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
3/16Antigovernment protesters receive medical treatment inside a cathedral in Kyiv on February 19.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
4/16Flames rise from a trade union building on Independence Square on February 19.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
5/16Riot police stand in front of burning barricades surrounding Independence Square.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
6/16Antigovernment demonstrators clash with riot police on February 18.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
7/16Protesters help an injured man during clashes with police.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
8/16Flames and fireworks light up Independence Square.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
9/16Interior ministry troops take cover behind shields amid a hail of cobblestones.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
10/16Riot police stand near people wounded during clashes.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
11/16Protesters aim weapons in Kyiv's government district on February 18.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
12/16Riot police detain a protester on February 18.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
13/16Flames rise from a group of riot police during clashes with protesters.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
14/16A wounded person lies on the ground.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
15/16Policeman help a wounded colleague.
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
16/16Burning tires in the government district
Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of Ukraine's mass antigovernment protests three months ago. (16 PHOTOS)
Previous slide
Next slide
15:5819.2.2014
This is Coilin O'Connor taking over live blogging duties from my colleague Luke Allnutt. News just in from AP, dpa, and ITAR-TASS:
Ukraine's Security Service says protesters seized more than 1,500 firearms from security forces during the latest unrest. The service says it's now launching a nationwide "antiterrorist" operation to restore order.
16:1619.2.2014
RFE/RL's live feed from Kyiv is now back up and running:
The recent events in Ukraine have shown "the escalation of violence and a massive use of firearms by the extremist groups. In many parts of the country, public authorities, military installations and depots with munitions are being seized. Court buildings are burning, the vandals are destroying private property and killing peaceful civilians,” the Ukrainian Security Service head, Aleksandr Yakimenko, said in a statement.
According to Yakimenko, “over the last day more than 1,500 firearms and 100,000 rounds of ammunition have come into the hands of criminals.”
Reacting to the “conscious, purposeful use of force by means of arson, killings, kidnapping and terrorizing people,” which Yakimenko treats as “terrorist acts,” the Security Service and Anti-terrorist center of Ukraine have decided to launch a counter-terrorist operation.
The Security Service head then urged all Ukrainians to stay calm and maintain peace and order. Special measures to reinforce public security and border security are being taken.
16:5019.2.2014
In what appears to be a big development, the executive committee of Lviv's regional council has announced in a statement that it is taking power in the region into its own hands:
"The regime has begun active military action against people […] Dozens of people have been killed in Kyiv and hundreds have been wounded […] Fulfilling the will of society, the executive committee of the Lviv region's council, the People's Rada, is assuming full responsibility for the fate of the region and its citizens," the statement says.
The document reiterates that the main function of the executive committee is to maintain law and order in the region and help send activists to Kyiv and provide the Maidan activists with everything they need:
"The lawfully elected local councils and the executive committees created by them remain the legitimate authorities in the Lviv region. The majority of the district police departments have already announced their decision to take the side of the people of Ukraine and report to the executive committee of the Lviv region's council."
