Some protesters are coming with protective-wear, apparently to prepare for attempts by riot police to break up the demonstrations. According to the Twitter feed of Donetsk News, an Internet news portal based in Donetsk, these demonstrators are "training on repelling an attack" from police.
"Thousands" are reportedly gathered a half hour before the official start time of the protests (12 PM Kyiv).
Ilya Varlamov, a Russian blogger known for his birds-eye shots of rallies in Moscow, is in Kyiv today.
While today's Kyiv rally is taking place in downtown Shevchenko Park, according to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, about 300 protesters are holding fort in Mikhailovska Square. An encampment formed there yesterday after riot police broke up the one in Independence Square.
On our Ukrainian Service's live blog.
"Activists walking from Mikhailovsky Square with a huge Ukrainian flag, chanting, 'Down with the Gang.'"
More fallout from the violence in Independence Square. The Kyiv police chief, Valery Koryak, has submitted a letter of resignation (we cannot yet confirm that this has been accepted). Earlier, the Interior Ministry temporarily suspended him. Koryak has denied that he issued an order to break up the encampment.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko has issued an apology for "excessive use of force," according to Interfax-Ukraine.
"I would like to personally apologize for my colleagues for the excessive use of force against participants in the actions on Independence Square," he said. He added that the actions were not ordered by the Interior Ministry.
Load more