Winter on Fire (2015) Movie Script
Do something.
Do something for the revolution.
I'm filming.
This is the Ukrainian Revolution.
It's fun.
They're shooting over there!
Don't go there!
Don't go there!
They're shooting over there!
There, he fell.
I was just dragging a dead body.
I stepped in blood.
You can't surprise me with anything.
You thought it would be easy,
just go to Maidan,
hang out a little and then go back?
Not me.
I always wanted to be on the front lines.
That's it. He's dead.
There is no alternative
to the integration with the EU.
Something was promised to people,
everything was working toward this,
and then...
On November 21st,
Prime Minister Azarov said
they were not signing the agreement.
It was hard to make a decision
to stop the process
of signing the EU Free Trade Agreement.
Listen, listen, you can always scream.
We know you can scream.
It's a big step backwards,
not just a step of one generation,
but all the way back
to my grandparents in the USSR.
This outraged people,
not just because times are tough now,
but they also stole our children's future.
My friend wrote me on Facebook,
"Did you see Mustafa's call
to come to Maidan?"
STATUS UPDATE
I said, "Yes, I saw it".
I was working late.
I opened Facebook
and the first post I saw said
to come to Maidan.
I closed my laptop.
The next time I opened it
was a month and a half later.
Everything began here on Maidan.
First, there were about 300-400 people.
We were looking at each other and saying,
"Where are these thousands
of people that Mustafa called?"
People gradually began to come out
from the subway and public transport,
and in half an hour there were
already thousands of people.
The next day,
people woke up and went to Maidan.
Despite the rain, we were here.
I came here because several days ago,
our government crossed out
the future of Ukraine,
and the aspirations of Ukrainian youth.
I came here to defend my future,
the future of my children,
compatriots and country.
Vitali Klitschko came to Maidan when he
saw that a huge crowd was gathering there.
He brought his truck
with the banner of his political party
but people made him take it away.
In general, these were people
indifferent to politics.
Ukraine is part of Europe!
When students started to mass together,
it became clear that
something was gonna happen.
Ukraine is part of Europe!
Ukraine is part of Europe!
What energy there was!
I have no words to express it!
Some people outside Maidan
were angry with us,
saying, "It's like a festival,
not a protest.
You are just standing,
singing songs and dancing."
We are standing here to prove
that Ukraine is a European country,
to reverse the existing political regime.
We dream of a better future.
I went to a caf,
and I sat at a table
with some of the students,
and I fell in love with these kids,
because their souls are so pure,
and they believe in Ukraine so much.
Look at the people,
how inspired they are,
not because of alcohol or drugs,
but because of togetherness.
Together, till the end!
I'm applauding for those who came out
for European integration.
People came out because
the government promised them
to make an agreement
with the European Union,
so we'll finally have steps
to live as a European country...
like a part of the civil world.
Sign!
Yanukovych, sign the agreement!
Sign!
This is our document!
We gathered in Maidan,
to demand our politicians
sign the agreement with the EU!
We're waiting on tomorrow's signing.
The Maidan of 2004 started the same way.
People were standing for their rights,
and they proved that we have the power.
Do what we want!
A miracle didn't happen,
and European Union leaders
and Ukraine have failed to sign
an historic free trade deal after
a last minute U-turn from Kyiv.
Shame!
Convict out!
Shame! Shame!
There were quite a lot of police.
They began encircling Maidan.
Police cars were approaching.
During the whole day
we had the feeling,
that the Berkut Special Forces
had been preparing for something.
I'd like to pronounce one word:
Re-vo-lu-tion.
Re-vo-lu-tion!
Take down the regime!
The police with the people!
Girls stood in the center,
and boys filled the stairs.
The girls began to sing
the national anthem.
Stop!
Stop!
I'm falling!
What the hell are you doing? Why?
Be careful!
The troops beat everyone with iron sticks
instead of plastic ones.
It seemed that even they were surprised
by injuries they had made using them.
Why?
My friends called me and
I heard people screaming and crying,
and I immediately understood
what was going on.
And you want to cry, to run,
to break something,
because you realize you can't do anything
to stop this mass destruction machine.
There were girls! Kids were there!
They pushed the 18-year-old girl
and started beating her.
They beat people in the back,
people fell down,
but they continued beating them.
I just wanted to find a girl
that got lost there.
But they didn't understand that
and started beating.
They didn't act like human beings.
When I asked them why,
they answered,
"Be grateful you're not being arrested."
The motto, "police with people"
is absolutely incorrect,
because all of them stand entirely
with the asshole president.
There are such bastards in the police,
that I'm not surprised that our president
is such a person as Yanukovych.
People who managed
to escape from Maidan
moved to Mykhaylivs'kyi
zolotoverkhyi Monastery.
My friend is injured,
he has a concussion
and he's in the hospital now.
My wife's arm is heavily bruised.
I feel well enough,
although my head is injured.
It's nothing serious.
I wanted to take away his stick,
but another Berkut came,
and shattered my eye with his stick.
At 7:30 a.m., the Berkut pulled up.
Their bus stopped at the gate.
What do you want from us?
-Hello, how are you there?
-Oh, come on, stop these provocations.
Provocations? You are the one
who broke into the church.
-Take away your bus and leave!
-I said we won't hurt you, okay?
-I said we won't hurt you.
-You should've thought of that earlier.
At the monastery, we tried
to understand what had happened.
We were afraid.
And if we don't want
to be afraid tomorrow,
we have to come out
and defend our position today.
Around 11:00 a.m.,
there was no free space.
The monastery was filled to capacity.
We opened a food center,
and a drop-off to provide warm clothes.
We put tables over there,
and created a legal aid center.
The medical center
was near that wall.
An information center was also here.
The government wanted to stop
this at the grassroots level,
but the reaction was opposite.
For Ukrainians and the country,
it was the first time when the government
so openly and brutally
demonstrated they're against
peaceful protests.
Ukraine, wake up!
People started protesting
because they're sick and tired.
At this point, it's not even about
European integration anymore.
People just want to live in freedom.
Please don't let them provoke you!
We are not going to leave.
People from all regions of Ukraine...
VINNYTSYA
LUGANSK
should come to Kyiv and support us.
Our aim is to reverse
the existing political regime.
I have never seen
such concentration of testosterone
as at Mykhaylivs'ka Square
on November 30th,
when strong men came out to declare
that no one will ever
hurt children in this country.
Shame! Shame!
No bruise will be forgotten!
No beating must be forgotten!
All together, we are strong!
We have to organize
a nationwide strike,
and deprive the government
the right to perform any actions!
Enough! Take action!
Kyiv, stand up!
Everyone realized that if today
students are beaten,
tomorrow, anyone can be beaten as well.
From that came
the "March of the Millions."
Such rallies of a million people
were our hope to be heard.
To Maidan!
There were people
with baby strollers, elders,
disabled people on crutches...
It was amazing!
We realized that
we could change something.
WE ARE AGAINS THE POLICE STATE
ONLY A COWARD CAN HURT A CHILD
They give us corruption!
We give them revolution!
Everyday people, teachers,
doctors, street cleaners,
everyone, the whole country said,
"This must stop!"
I'd like all of us to remember
that there are two European values:
freedom and human dignity.
And no one can deprive us of them.
These are fundamental rights
that we must fight for.
Today all of us are here,
regardless of our political views,
people from different cities,
from all over Ukraine,
speaking different languages.
We all came here to fight for one thing:
for our freedom, our dignity.
Ukraine, we are all together!
One million people,
outraged by such barbaric cruelty.
They showed the government
must not enrage the nation.
This inspired me very much.
Our people are not without rights
and they are not cowards.
Brothers and sisters!
Yanukovych and his gang
raised a hand against our children!
He thought we would
be scared and hide!
Many of us were feeling very angry.
My friends said they were
going to Bankova Street,
because they wanted revenge
for the beatings of the girls.
All of them were so furious
about what happened.
I could see anger
in their faces and acts.
And everyone seriously thought
that the presidential headquarters
could be seized.
In the front lines
there were people wearing masks,
but as far as I could see,
there were average boys and girls
standing in the crowd behind.
Police with the people!
No aggression!
Only peaceful protest!
We have beautiful people here
who want change,
but let's get real, we are outnumbered!
If we want revolution to happen,
we need to involve them, not hit them!
There were provocateurs there
planted by the Berkut.
To give them a reason
to storm and beat everyone.
The police threw stun grenades,
and dispersed tear gas into the crowd.
One of the Berkut policemen
ran to me and hit my leg.
It hurt so much,
I couldn't walk or even stand.
Some of the Red Cross medical workers
pushed me into the nearest house
and protected me with their backs.
Berkut beat up all these guys.
They shielded me
with their backs and saved me.
My friend was beaten
much more than the others
while he was lying on the ground.
He is indifferent to politics.
He is an average man...
like most of us who were
standing on the Maidan.
Call the ambulance!
We can't help him.
I have only one question: Why?
Aren't you Ukrainian too?
We need a doctor!
People of Maidan asked officers
in reserve for help.
We gathered, moved to Maidan
and started to construct barricades.
What was good about Maidan
was self-organization.
Everyone knew what they needed to do,
and they did it on their own.
KYIV CITY
STATE ADMINISTRATION
Protesters occupied the
Kyiv City State Administration Building.
It was a radical act
that formed the new face of Maidan.
THE NATION IS INVINCIBLE
I began providing food
for people on Maidan.
I found out what they needed,
warm clothes, hats, blankets...
I was shocked how people
stood in the street
despite such cold weather all this time.
I admire the courage of these people.
I was on Maidan from the beginning.
I saw how the students were
staying here in Maidan,
I was worried about them,
and live not too far from here.
It was a spontaneous idea,
to stay in Maidan
until everybody hears you.
Until the world hears you.
We are a European nation
and we will fight for our future!
I'm asking you one more time,
I'm begging you,
don't carry out the orders of
Convict Yanukovych.
Come to the side of your nation!
Come to the side of your nation!
During the negotiations,
while the whole world was watching
how a free Ukrainian nation
will overcome this situation,
the government decided to act
in the most disgraceful
and sneaky way ever.
The Berkut showed up
and surrounded Maidan.
They wanted to clear Maidan.
They had shields,
helmets and body armor,
while we were unarmed.
Those who gave the command,
don't commit the greatest crime
in the country's history.
Don't do this, please!
Shame! Shame!
All the women were sent to the stage,
so they wouldn't get hurt,
while the men somehow
tried to hold off the Berkut.
We were standing hand in hand...
and didn't know
what would happen next.
We just hoped for the best.
We couldn't allow any provocation.
On the count of one,
they started pushing us.
We felt like we were squeezed.
The pressure of Berkut was so huge
it started to break up
the hand-chain of the Maidan protesters.
I started singing the anthem,
even though it was hard.
But when you hear it,
your hands become stronger.
It wasn't fear, but apprehension.
"What if they manage to break us up?"
We weren't afraid of being hurt.
We were afraid that the idea
of Maidan would be extinguished.
People called me at 1:30 a.m.
I was getting so many calls.
I realized I had to act.
So with Bishop Agapit's blessing,
my friends and I started
ringing all the bells.
Today, December 11th, 2013,
they are trying to wipe out Maidan.
Mykhalyvs'kyi Monastery is doing
something in order to prevent that.
The last time Mykhalyvs'kyi Monastery
rang all the bells...
was in 1240
when the Mongol-Tatars invaded Kyiv.
I was afraid that people
would only know
about what had happened
from the morning TV news again.
Then I saw my friends arriving,
leaving their cars in the street
and running.
When people were going
to Maidan on foot,
no one could stop it!
Lots of drivers picked up people
far from the city center
and brought them to Maidan.
More and more Kyiv citizens came.
Finally, there were about 15,000 of us.
So the Berkut couldn't do anything.
That night of December 11th
showed how important
the spirit of unity is.
It didn't matter anymore
how much money and efforts
would be needed
to achieve the aim.
The point was human dignity.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Maidan taught Ukrainian youth
how to organize ourselves.
Now we know that our plans
might become real.
We can change this country on our own.
We just took bags
and filled them with snow and water.
We used them to build
robust constructions.
Even when it got warmer,
the barricades didn't melt at once.
Finally, they became
our solid foundations.
We found welding materials,
rods and welded spike strips.
We made more massive
and durable constructions.
When people saw these barricades,
they said they looked like historical
barricades from the 16th century.
So why wouldn't we use
the laws, rules,
and hierarchy of our ancestors?
This brought about the creation
of Maidan Defense Units.
Some Maidan Defense Units were named
after the home towns of its participants.
WE ARE FORMING A WOMEN'S
RAPID REACTION UNI People came to Maidan to win.
This was a people's army...
and of course,
I came to train this army.
I taught them how to resist the attacks
of these monsters in uniforms.
We began to gather and train
how to behave correctly,
how to defend ourselves
and our friends,
how to control our emotions
not to provoke others,
and how to act legally
in tense situations.
We were patrolling
the perimeter of Maidan,
guarding and defending people.
We were doing our best to keep order.
There was not even a single bottle
of beer on Maidan and it's a fact.
The activists of Maidan
were people who stood here,
while the activists of AutoMaidan
were the car owners.
They were like an outer circle,
the cavalry of Maidan.
It was my school.
I never went to school before.
But I am staying here in Maidan.
I volunteered in the tech tent.
I was charging phones
and helping people,
and helping people use the Internet
so they can connect with their families.
President Yanukovych
entered into an agreement with Russia
and by doing so he distanced
the country even further from the EU.
I'm against Yanukovych.
He's not good for us as a president.
His Berkut beat a woman
in front of my eyes.
They beat girls, they beat boys.
They even beat me.
When I came here, I found many friends.
All of them are like my brothers.
I started writing stories
on my Facebook page
about people who came to Maidan.
I'd like to write a story about you.
-Really? Where have you seen me?
-I see you here every day.
I communicated with Serhiy Nigoyan,
I was writing a story about him
and where he came from.
That girl has drawn my portrait?
I'm supposed to live in this country.
This is my future, why I stay here.
All of us, we are one.
Brother for brother,
neighbor for neighbor.
In Maidan, we didn't have nationalities,
we didn't have language groups...
It was only people
who didn't want to live with the regime.
From the very beginning,
the representatives
of all religions were on Maidan,
as the "Men of Prayer."
We tried to help people of all means,
not only by prayer,
we communicated with people.
We tried to put their hearts
into what they were doing,
and keep their faith.
We supported people
in their aspirations,
concerning not only their future,
but also the future of our state.
Different religions came together
without conflict,
in order to achieve one mutual
and important goal.
You know, when people were singing
the national anthem every three hours,
I had a feeling
that it became a prayer.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Happy New Year, Ukraine!
Instead of conducting negotiations,
the government chose to unleash
a bacchanalia of dictatorship.
Vote by raising your hands.
We live in the 21st century
in a civilized country,
and our lawmakers in the parliament
vote by raising hands?
What a show! Come on!
What are you doing, guys?
You vote and adopt
a series of stupid, tyrannical laws!
It's absurd!
According to these laws, you can't
wear motorcycle helmets and hard hats,
you can't drive
a group of 5 cars at once,
even at weddings and funerals...
I found my ski helmet
and an old camouflage jacket
and wore them to work.
I told them,
"You can arrest me any time".
People were wearing pots,
diving masks and flippers.
They took anything they could find.
You see a lot of people
wearing kitchen pots.
They forgot to put that in these laws.
They should add that immediately.
The people interpreted it
with such irony and defiance.
Every 20th person showed the government
how pissed off they were
with these so-called "laws".
The catalyst were the laws
passed on January 16th.
That weekend we had a veche.
Every weekend we had a veche,
a meeting of the people in Maidan.
It's already been two months
and no results!
This is the 9th veche,
and we need a concrete plan!
On Sunday, the opposition
leaders came out to the stage,
but hadn't said anything worthwhile again.
Shame!
People were so disappointed
by their lack of action,
they decided to tell
these politicians where to get off.
I'm one of you.
Everyone knows about AutoMaidan
and what we are doing for Ukraine.
We are standing by your side.
We'll march peacefully to the Parliament,
and we'll stand there
as long as it takes.
Those who agree, raise your hands!
Thank you!
I'm calling to all lawmakers of Ukraine.
You are chosen by the people!
Each of you must come to the Parliament
and cancel these shameful laws!
Otherwise tomorrow,
we'll be arrested and thrown in jail!
For what?
For expressing our civil rights?
For 30 minutes we were trying
to persuade the police to back down,
and let us approach
the Parliament peacefully.
That's it.
They responded by cursing at us.
I appeal to the police.
You gave an oath to serve
the Ukrainian nation,
not to Yanukovych and his gang!
Free the way for peaceful citizens!
While standing in the right flank,
we tried to find a compromise
with the Internal Troops peacefully.
Turmoil began in the left flank.
Vitali Klitschko and other opposition
party leaders tried to pacify the crowd,
but the protesters didn't listen to them.
At this point they had
no authority or influence anymore.
People were disillusioned
by their inability to
take real responsibility for something.
There, on Hrushevskogo,
everyone's patience ran out.
In what country in the world would people
be able to live with these laws?
It's easier to go directly to prison.
Can you imagine?
Infuriating people to such despair
that a banker and one of the most
influential attorneys from Lviv
came to Hrushevskogo Street
to throw stones at the police.
Strategically our position on
Hrushevskogo Street was very unfavorable.
But it was a perfect vantage-ground
for the Internal Troops.
They started shooting at us
with rubber bullets.
They also attached bolts and screws
to stun grenades,
so they caused
as much damage as possible.
The Ukrainian people
will determine who's in charge.
We chose this president,
and we can take him out.
People were not afraid here.
It was more frightening to watch
all of these events on TV,
than to come here to participate in them.
From here, we were throwing
Molotov cocktails and stones.
Take gas, machine oil and saltpeter,
mix it together and shake well.
Take a cloth rag and make a wick,
light it up and throw.
Convict out!
Mostly here we were burning tires,
so the fire could keep
the Berkut from attacking us.
After several days of hard resistance,
people were very exhausted.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
And at sunrise,
when everyone was extremely tired,
Berkut realized...
"It's the right moment to attack.
Let's clean up this place."
People on our side
were disorganized and confused.
Protesters and civilians
mixed with policemen,
mixed with the soldiers,
a chaotic jumble.
When they attack people,
the police went first,
behind them were the Berkut
followed by the Titushky.
Titushky are hired thugs,
who have no dignity or conscience.
They sold themselves out for money.
Many of them were released from prison,
criminals that were hired to do this job.
We're here for an idea.
You're standing here
in the cold for an idea?
We want to keep order in Ukraine.
Titushky...
they don't have principles.
For less than ten bucks,
they are willing to not only wave a flag,
but also to kill.
Titushky love only money.
They betrayed the Ukrainian nation.
Titushky were standing behind me,
waiting for the right moment,
and they knocked me to the ground.
After that, some Berkut
ran up to me and I got captured.
Bring him back!
Bring him fucking back!
They tried to dishonor him,
but instead dishonored themselves.
He stood with his head held high.
He behaved with dignity.
It caused a great
emotional outburst among people.
People were standing
15 feet from a Berkut policeman,
and he was shooting without stopping.
But people took sticks
and started attacking him.
The troops were shooting
directly at the Red Cross signs.
Don't shoot!
-Where is that wounded guy?
-Get away!
I'm a doctor!
I'm just a doctor!
I mean you no harm!
I showed him the sign of the Red Cross,
but he shot my leg.
The first victims with
wounded eyes appeared that day.
When we brought in the third man
with no eyes...
I came outside and
had a panic attack.
FIRST AID
The first improvised
medical aid station
was located near
a sushi restaurant.
People brought bottles
with drinking water,
lemons, vinegar...
Anything they thought
could help with tear gas.
In the morning,
when Berkut attacked,
they completely destroyed
that medical station.
You bastards!
Don't touch the medicine!
They threw stun grenades inside
and sprayed tear gas.
We had to run away.
All the medicine was left behind.
We couldn't even imagine that
something like this could happen.
Among the rubber bullets
that were distributed to Berkut,
it seems someone substituted them
with live ammunition on purpose.
It was scary, to be honest with you,
when they started to shoot people
with real bullets.
You hear the sound of
a bullet passing your head,
and see people dropping dead.
I want to ask them
who gave birth to you?
A mother or a wolf?
How could this happen?
Against your own people?
One of the most horrible moments
I've seen was on Hrushevskogo Street,
when the Berkut shot Serhiy Nigoyan.
How could such a good person be killed?
He was so young and had
his whole life ahead of him.
Everyone who knew Serhiy
always said the same thing about him,
how pure, how beautiful
and how open this human being was.
We still can't believe he's gone.
We wait...
I'm here and I keep thinking that
he is up there on Hrushevskogo Street.
I can't believe...
Those in power were banking that
Maidan would fall apart on its own,
but after the events on Hrushevskogo,
and after the first deaths,
Zhyznevskyi and Nigoyan...
people decided to stay until the end.
For us, it was the point of no return.
I realized...
that the time of this government
has come to an end.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to the nation!
-Death to our enemies!
The AutoMaidan is trapped.
Tonight's main story is attacks
on the AutoMaidan Activists.
ATTACKS ON AUTOMAIDAN
Tonight they were
patrolling Kyiv streets
and hospitals where wounded
activists were brought.
But their cars were attacked
and many activists were arrested
and kidnapped by Berkut.
Our friends were missing,
so we went out to look for them...
but on the way...
It was a well-planned trap.
Berkut and traffic police
participated in it.
So we were captured.
-What are you doing?
-This is my wife!
We are just going home!
What the hell are you doing?
First, they smashed
and destroyed our car.
Then they dragged us out
on the street and beat us.
After that they put us in a bus
and took us to Mariyinsky Park...
...where they released me.
They were severely beating the men,
who were getting terribly injured.
They were beating us to death.
-Are you insane? Call the police!
-People are kidnapped here!
-Don't block the road.
-Call the police! People are kidnapped!
I thought I would never
see my friends alive.
Considering how many people
were kidnapped and injured,
at that point,
it was really scary.
I just came from negotiations with
the President of Ukraine, Yanukovych.
As of today, Berkut will stop
using force against activists.
All kidnapped protesters
will be released.
We don't believe it!
I have no guarantee
these are not lies,
we've been deceived many times...
If we go home
we can be caught!
They'll kill us one by one!
And nobody judges them!
Why does the government
not judge its own crimes?
When I went to do my regular
night security watch,
my little daughter came to me,
and asked me not to go.
"Poppa," she said, "I'll grow up...
and bring them down myself."
And I told her,
"If we don't take them down now,
no one will ever be able to do it."
Maidan started in November.
It was able to survive through
many difficult events.
But the moment came when the people
of Maidan formulated their own goals,
as a set of specific political demands.
The first thing we insisted on
was the release of political prisoners.
The second one was
establishing equality of power
between the parliament
and the president
to establish well-balanced
branches of government.
The third one was
early presidential re-elections.
Those for this, raise your hand!
Only under these three conditions
could Maidan end in a peaceful way.
These were our demands in February
and they were supposed to be discussed
and approved by the parliament.
On February 18th, a crowd of unarmed
people gathered to go to the Parliament.
People without weapons or anything.
A lot of patriots
responded to the call
for a peaceful rally
to the parliament.
We hope that our
representatives will hear us!
We supposed that a peaceful protest
and rally to the parliament,
supported by
a great number of people,
would become a turning point,
and we would finally be heard.
Waiting for us there were the police,
Berkut, and Titushky.
Remember when you were children,
you were taught to love Ukraine.
Remember what your
first teachers told you.
I didn't know how all this would end.
They just started killing us.
Titushky that were in Mariyinsky Park
on February 18th
were different than they were before.
They were well trained
and organized.
It was a well-planned action.
Titushky were allowed to do
things that the policemen weren't.
Come on, finish him!
They behaved like animals.
When we saw black clouds of smoke
rise over Hrushevskogo Street,
and we realized tires were
burning on Instytutska Street,
we went there.
At the intersection of
Instytutska and Shelkovichna Street,
Berkut shot at people from rooftops.
They swore an oath
to serve the Ukrainian nation
but they wound up serving others.
Very bad people.
They got used to living a vile and
nasty life and so they do vile things.
They were rotten.
Berkut were throwing bricks at us.
They had no mercy.
Neither did we.
It wasn't like a fictional show
we watch on TV.
It was a shocking reality we faced.
Call the ambulance!
Hold his legs!
Call the ambulance, quick!
Since Berkut had guns and grenades,
and we challenged them
without firearms,
we had to retreat back to Maidan.
They occupied top positions,
the October Palace and the footbridge.
They had perfect firing positions.
Knowing military tactics,
I realized that we were trapped.
You are fighting against
your own brothers and sisters!
In that critical moment on Maidan,
behind the people forming a barricade,
people were on their knees
praying with rosary beads.
These are your people!
Don't follow these unlawful orders!
Berkut started throwing
Molotov cocktails at us from over there.
Our side didn't lose courage
and began throwing tires into the fire
to make them choke from the smoke.
The wind and a higher power
were on our side,
and the smoke was
stifling them on the top.
We have to stop them with fire!
The fire is our shield!
Many people were scared.
But we still stood there.
Nobody ran away.
I was shooting at them
with my slingshot.
I hit a few of them.
It was a dramatic and difficult night.
People didn't talk.
They just were looking
into each other's eyes,
into each other's soul.
I have never seen such courage.
I was watching people and wondering,
"When will they run?"
And I'd understand, if they did.
But they didn't.
They were fighting...
They were fighting to the death.
It might sound overstated, but at that
moment it looked exactly like that.
People were fighting to the death.
They were fighting for Ukraine.
We were inside the Trade Union House
when it all started.
They came from the top.
The Trade Union House
was also used as a hospital,
and there were lots of wounded.
Today, as of now
there are about 20 dead
and there are about 400 wounded.
It's mass murder.
The police and Berkut came and
started throwing flash grenades.
They did everything
to burn this building down,
because it was
the headquarters of the revolution.
When the fire started,
the biggest problem was
getting people out,
especially those
who weren't able to walk.
Hold on!
Many people died in this building.
Stop this action of killing people!
Go back to your kids,
go back to your wives,
go back to your families!
During this time in February,
Mykhaylivskyi Monastery once again
became a sanctuary for people.
At Mykhaylivskyi
we organized a hospital,
and again, a kitchen and
warm clothes drop-off.
I saw medical workers
from all over Ukraine,
from Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsya...
They were on duty 24/7
delivering medical care.
They brought everything
they could and did their best.
At first, only people from Kyiv
brought medicines and food,
then cars started arriving from Rivne,
Cherkassy and other cities.
Take that box.
There's Pantenol and painkillers.
And in the backyard...
a morgue.
The information about
30 dead is almost confirmed.
Unfortunately, we don't know
anything about victims
taken away by the Berkut
from Mariyinsky Park.
The tires were burning.
People were gathering
but nobody took any decisive actions.
I got expelled, but I came back
from another barricade and stayed.
They thought I was
too young to be there.
Some Berkut started to walk
on the burned ground.
People started throwing bricks at them,
when suddenly we heard
a burst of machine gun fire.
It confused all of us.
People thought that the Berkut
started shooting protesters,
while the Internal Forces thought that
the protesters were armed and shooting.
So they started to retreat.
The Berkut stayed and opened fire.
Take him to the medics!
Doctor!
Come on, let's carry him.
When people were climbing up that hill,
they realized that taking back this
territory would result in many casualties.
The shooting started over there.
There were concrete blocks
that Berkut used
as a shield and to shoot from.
He's injured, get him out of here!
Cover him!
Hold on!
Guys! Help!
They were shooting
and killing our people...
but we knew we couldn't retreat.
We had to bring it all to an end.
You can see the bullet holes left here.
You don't need to be a genius
to understand where the shots came from.
We are not afraid to die for freedom.
Freedom is for us.
Freedom is ours.
We will win,
and Ukraine will be part of Europe,
and Ukraine will be
part of the free world!
And we'll never be slaves.
We will be free.
A friend of mine died here,
Vitya Chmilenko.
He ran up Instytutska Street
with a stretcher to bring out the wounded.
He bent toward a wounded man
and then he got shot.
I have no words...
What kind of mother raised a man
to purposely target a person
just trying to help
his wounded friend?
They were even shooting priests.
These killers hold nothing sacred.
They can just as easily kill a holy man
the same as everyone else
they killed on Maidan.
The sniper attack
showed such depravity.
It was...
pure hatred...
of your own brothers.
We have to bring out and
carry some wounded, at least two!
They were going with these
wooden shields under the bullets
and didn't realize
that it was heroism.
I tried to persuade them
not to do this,
because they might be killed.
They answered,
"We came here to die."
They were driven
to make this country better,
so they were willing
to go under the bullets,
understanding they might die,
and not come back.
I'm on the front line
at Instytutska Street.
I can't hear you.
Say something to Mom.
Hi, I just woke up.
In short, Moysey Vasyl Mykhailovych.
Moysey Vasyl Mykhailovych.
Tell her that you love her.
Mom, I want to tell you something...
Mom, I want you to know...
Mom...
I love you.
You know what was
the most difficult thing?
To decide to admit
that a person is dead.
There are things that
I hate myself for...
When you resuscitate one...
and people continue bringing
more and more victims...
you understand that
you might save that one,
but the others can be lost.
Bullet wounds are life-threatening.
You close someone's eyes and make
a decision to stop resuscitating him.
Then you move to the next victim.
Having to decide who was already dead,
that was the hardest thing.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to the nation!
-Death to our enemies!
-Ukraine!
-Above all!
I can't accept...
after all the wars we've had in the world,
we are still resolving our problems
by killing each other.
We lost here...
the best people of our nation.
Forever in our hearts.
We paid a huge price.
I want to thank you...
Convict out!
Convict out!
We heard what our so-called leaders
agreed to with the government...
What happened today at
the Parliament was important.
...to have new elections in December.
I remember my father told me,
"This is our end...
Who wasn't killed, will be killed.
Who wasn't in prison, will go to prison."
Today was a small victory.
A small victory because of you.
I realized that
we couldn't leave it like that.
Our friends that we've lost
would not forgive us
if we accepted those terms
from the government.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Here's what I want to say.
We're ordinary people, talking
to these politicians standing behind me.
Yanukovych will not be
the president for one more year!
Tomorrow by 10:00 a.m.,
he must resign!
Resign! Resign!
My compatriot was shot down!
He had a wife and a baby!
And our "leaders"
shake hands with these murderers!
Shame on them!
Shame on them!
Shame on them!
I speak to you on behalf of my entire
Defense Unit that my father joined too.
If tomorrow by 10:00 a.m.
you do not make a statement
about Yanukovych's resignation,
I swear, we will go on
an armed offensive!
I ask you, dear colleagues,
to vote.
The Ukrainian parliament,
expressing the will
of the Ukrainian nation, declares,
first, the President of Ukraine,
Viktor Yanukovych,
has resigned in an unconstitutional way,
and will not be fulfilling
the duties of the president.
Second, schedule early
presidential election
for May 25, 2014.
Third, this resolution comes into effect
from the moment of its adoption.
328 lawmakers voted in favor.
The resolution is adopted!
For 23 years, we only had
our independence on paper.
But now, so many people sacrificed
their lives that it has become real.
Maidan was a small territory
that held great bravery.
For the future of our children,
people were prepared to die.
Even those who had
no children of their own.
The people came out
and showed that we have the power.
Muslims. Jews, Christians
of different denominations, Buddhists,
and people who don't
subscribe to a particular faith,
treated each other with respect.
And I can say that
a new society was born.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
We were born in the '90s,
we were born in
an independent Ukraine,
we know the borders of our country,
we understand the meaning
of word "patriotism".
Glory to the heroes!
It's an amazing generation
that grew up during the independence.
They grew up as free people.
No one can make a free person kneel.
Maidan was a singular experience,
when everyone felt real unity,
real patriotism,
and felt the presence of God.
Do something for the revolution.
I'm filming.
This is the Ukrainian Revolution.
It's fun.
They're shooting over there!
Don't go there!
Don't go there!
They're shooting over there!
There, he fell.
I was just dragging a dead body.
I stepped in blood.
You can't surprise me with anything.
You thought it would be easy,
just go to Maidan,
hang out a little and then go back?
Not me.
I always wanted to be on the front lines.
That's it. He's dead.
There is no alternative
to the integration with the EU.
Something was promised to people,
everything was working toward this,
and then...
On November 21st,
Prime Minister Azarov said
they were not signing the agreement.
It was hard to make a decision
to stop the process
of signing the EU Free Trade Agreement.
Listen, listen, you can always scream.
We know you can scream.
It's a big step backwards,
not just a step of one generation,
but all the way back
to my grandparents in the USSR.
This outraged people,
not just because times are tough now,
but they also stole our children's future.
My friend wrote me on Facebook,
"Did you see Mustafa's call
to come to Maidan?"
STATUS UPDATE
I said, "Yes, I saw it".
I was working late.
I opened Facebook
and the first post I saw said
to come to Maidan.
I closed my laptop.
The next time I opened it
was a month and a half later.
Everything began here on Maidan.
First, there were about 300-400 people.
We were looking at each other and saying,
"Where are these thousands
of people that Mustafa called?"
People gradually began to come out
from the subway and public transport,
and in half an hour there were
already thousands of people.
The next day,
people woke up and went to Maidan.
Despite the rain, we were here.
I came here because several days ago,
our government crossed out
the future of Ukraine,
and the aspirations of Ukrainian youth.
I came here to defend my future,
the future of my children,
compatriots and country.
Vitali Klitschko came to Maidan when he
saw that a huge crowd was gathering there.
He brought his truck
with the banner of his political party
but people made him take it away.
In general, these were people
indifferent to politics.
Ukraine is part of Europe!
When students started to mass together,
it became clear that
something was gonna happen.
Ukraine is part of Europe!
Ukraine is part of Europe!
What energy there was!
I have no words to express it!
Some people outside Maidan
were angry with us,
saying, "It's like a festival,
not a protest.
You are just standing,
singing songs and dancing."
We are standing here to prove
that Ukraine is a European country,
to reverse the existing political regime.
We dream of a better future.
I went to a caf,
and I sat at a table
with some of the students,
and I fell in love with these kids,
because their souls are so pure,
and they believe in Ukraine so much.
Look at the people,
how inspired they are,
not because of alcohol or drugs,
but because of togetherness.
Together, till the end!
I'm applauding for those who came out
for European integration.
People came out because
the government promised them
to make an agreement
with the European Union,
so we'll finally have steps
to live as a European country...
like a part of the civil world.
Sign!
Yanukovych, sign the agreement!
Sign!
This is our document!
We gathered in Maidan,
to demand our politicians
sign the agreement with the EU!
We're waiting on tomorrow's signing.
The Maidan of 2004 started the same way.
People were standing for their rights,
and they proved that we have the power.
Do what we want!
A miracle didn't happen,
and European Union leaders
and Ukraine have failed to sign
an historic free trade deal after
a last minute U-turn from Kyiv.
Shame!
Convict out!
Shame! Shame!
There were quite a lot of police.
They began encircling Maidan.
Police cars were approaching.
During the whole day
we had the feeling,
that the Berkut Special Forces
had been preparing for something.
I'd like to pronounce one word:
Re-vo-lu-tion.
Re-vo-lu-tion!
Take down the regime!
The police with the people!
Girls stood in the center,
and boys filled the stairs.
The girls began to sing
the national anthem.
Stop!
Stop!
I'm falling!
What the hell are you doing? Why?
Be careful!
The troops beat everyone with iron sticks
instead of plastic ones.
It seemed that even they were surprised
by injuries they had made using them.
Why?
My friends called me and
I heard people screaming and crying,
and I immediately understood
what was going on.
And you want to cry, to run,
to break something,
because you realize you can't do anything
to stop this mass destruction machine.
There were girls! Kids were there!
They pushed the 18-year-old girl
and started beating her.
They beat people in the back,
people fell down,
but they continued beating them.
I just wanted to find a girl
that got lost there.
But they didn't understand that
and started beating.
They didn't act like human beings.
When I asked them why,
they answered,
"Be grateful you're not being arrested."
The motto, "police with people"
is absolutely incorrect,
because all of them stand entirely
with the asshole president.
There are such bastards in the police,
that I'm not surprised that our president
is such a person as Yanukovych.
People who managed
to escape from Maidan
moved to Mykhaylivs'kyi
zolotoverkhyi Monastery.
My friend is injured,
he has a concussion
and he's in the hospital now.
My wife's arm is heavily bruised.
I feel well enough,
although my head is injured.
It's nothing serious.
I wanted to take away his stick,
but another Berkut came,
and shattered my eye with his stick.
At 7:30 a.m., the Berkut pulled up.
Their bus stopped at the gate.
What do you want from us?
-Hello, how are you there?
-Oh, come on, stop these provocations.
Provocations? You are the one
who broke into the church.
-Take away your bus and leave!
-I said we won't hurt you, okay?
-I said we won't hurt you.
-You should've thought of that earlier.
At the monastery, we tried
to understand what had happened.
We were afraid.
And if we don't want
to be afraid tomorrow,
we have to come out
and defend our position today.
Around 11:00 a.m.,
there was no free space.
The monastery was filled to capacity.
We opened a food center,
and a drop-off to provide warm clothes.
We put tables over there,
and created a legal aid center.
The medical center
was near that wall.
An information center was also here.
The government wanted to stop
this at the grassroots level,
but the reaction was opposite.
For Ukrainians and the country,
it was the first time when the government
so openly and brutally
demonstrated they're against
peaceful protests.
Ukraine, wake up!
People started protesting
because they're sick and tired.
At this point, it's not even about
European integration anymore.
People just want to live in freedom.
Please don't let them provoke you!
We are not going to leave.
People from all regions of Ukraine...
VINNYTSYA
LUGANSK
should come to Kyiv and support us.
Our aim is to reverse
the existing political regime.
I have never seen
such concentration of testosterone
as at Mykhaylivs'ka Square
on November 30th,
when strong men came out to declare
that no one will ever
hurt children in this country.
Shame! Shame!
No bruise will be forgotten!
No beating must be forgotten!
All together, we are strong!
We have to organize
a nationwide strike,
and deprive the government
the right to perform any actions!
Enough! Take action!
Kyiv, stand up!
Everyone realized that if today
students are beaten,
tomorrow, anyone can be beaten as well.
From that came
the "March of the Millions."
Such rallies of a million people
were our hope to be heard.
To Maidan!
There were people
with baby strollers, elders,
disabled people on crutches...
It was amazing!
We realized that
we could change something.
WE ARE AGAINS THE POLICE STATE
ONLY A COWARD CAN HURT A CHILD
They give us corruption!
We give them revolution!
Everyday people, teachers,
doctors, street cleaners,
everyone, the whole country said,
"This must stop!"
I'd like all of us to remember
that there are two European values:
freedom and human dignity.
And no one can deprive us of them.
These are fundamental rights
that we must fight for.
Today all of us are here,
regardless of our political views,
people from different cities,
from all over Ukraine,
speaking different languages.
We all came here to fight for one thing:
for our freedom, our dignity.
Ukraine, we are all together!
One million people,
outraged by such barbaric cruelty.
They showed the government
must not enrage the nation.
This inspired me very much.
Our people are not without rights
and they are not cowards.
Brothers and sisters!
Yanukovych and his gang
raised a hand against our children!
He thought we would
be scared and hide!
Many of us were feeling very angry.
My friends said they were
going to Bankova Street,
because they wanted revenge
for the beatings of the girls.
All of them were so furious
about what happened.
I could see anger
in their faces and acts.
And everyone seriously thought
that the presidential headquarters
could be seized.
In the front lines
there were people wearing masks,
but as far as I could see,
there were average boys and girls
standing in the crowd behind.
Police with the people!
No aggression!
Only peaceful protest!
We have beautiful people here
who want change,
but let's get real, we are outnumbered!
If we want revolution to happen,
we need to involve them, not hit them!
There were provocateurs there
planted by the Berkut.
To give them a reason
to storm and beat everyone.
The police threw stun grenades,
and dispersed tear gas into the crowd.
One of the Berkut policemen
ran to me and hit my leg.
It hurt so much,
I couldn't walk or even stand.
Some of the Red Cross medical workers
pushed me into the nearest house
and protected me with their backs.
Berkut beat up all these guys.
They shielded me
with their backs and saved me.
My friend was beaten
much more than the others
while he was lying on the ground.
He is indifferent to politics.
He is an average man...
like most of us who were
standing on the Maidan.
Call the ambulance!
We can't help him.
I have only one question: Why?
Aren't you Ukrainian too?
We need a doctor!
People of Maidan asked officers
in reserve for help.
We gathered, moved to Maidan
and started to construct barricades.
What was good about Maidan
was self-organization.
Everyone knew what they needed to do,
and they did it on their own.
KYIV CITY
STATE ADMINISTRATION
Protesters occupied the
Kyiv City State Administration Building.
It was a radical act
that formed the new face of Maidan.
THE NATION IS INVINCIBLE
I began providing food
for people on Maidan.
I found out what they needed,
warm clothes, hats, blankets...
I was shocked how people
stood in the street
despite such cold weather all this time.
I admire the courage of these people.
I was on Maidan from the beginning.
I saw how the students were
staying here in Maidan,
I was worried about them,
and live not too far from here.
It was a spontaneous idea,
to stay in Maidan
until everybody hears you.
Until the world hears you.
We are a European nation
and we will fight for our future!
I'm asking you one more time,
I'm begging you,
don't carry out the orders of
Convict Yanukovych.
Come to the side of your nation!
Come to the side of your nation!
During the negotiations,
while the whole world was watching
how a free Ukrainian nation
will overcome this situation,
the government decided to act
in the most disgraceful
and sneaky way ever.
The Berkut showed up
and surrounded Maidan.
They wanted to clear Maidan.
They had shields,
helmets and body armor,
while we were unarmed.
Those who gave the command,
don't commit the greatest crime
in the country's history.
Don't do this, please!
Shame! Shame!
All the women were sent to the stage,
so they wouldn't get hurt,
while the men somehow
tried to hold off the Berkut.
We were standing hand in hand...
and didn't know
what would happen next.
We just hoped for the best.
We couldn't allow any provocation.
On the count of one,
they started pushing us.
We felt like we were squeezed.
The pressure of Berkut was so huge
it started to break up
the hand-chain of the Maidan protesters.
I started singing the anthem,
even though it was hard.
But when you hear it,
your hands become stronger.
It wasn't fear, but apprehension.
"What if they manage to break us up?"
We weren't afraid of being hurt.
We were afraid that the idea
of Maidan would be extinguished.
People called me at 1:30 a.m.
I was getting so many calls.
I realized I had to act.
So with Bishop Agapit's blessing,
my friends and I started
ringing all the bells.
Today, December 11th, 2013,
they are trying to wipe out Maidan.
Mykhalyvs'kyi Monastery is doing
something in order to prevent that.
The last time Mykhalyvs'kyi Monastery
rang all the bells...
was in 1240
when the Mongol-Tatars invaded Kyiv.
I was afraid that people
would only know
about what had happened
from the morning TV news again.
Then I saw my friends arriving,
leaving their cars in the street
and running.
When people were going
to Maidan on foot,
no one could stop it!
Lots of drivers picked up people
far from the city center
and brought them to Maidan.
More and more Kyiv citizens came.
Finally, there were about 15,000 of us.
So the Berkut couldn't do anything.
That night of December 11th
showed how important
the spirit of unity is.
It didn't matter anymore
how much money and efforts
would be needed
to achieve the aim.
The point was human dignity.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Maidan taught Ukrainian youth
how to organize ourselves.
Now we know that our plans
might become real.
We can change this country on our own.
We just took bags
and filled them with snow and water.
We used them to build
robust constructions.
Even when it got warmer,
the barricades didn't melt at once.
Finally, they became
our solid foundations.
We found welding materials,
rods and welded spike strips.
We made more massive
and durable constructions.
When people saw these barricades,
they said they looked like historical
barricades from the 16th century.
So why wouldn't we use
the laws, rules,
and hierarchy of our ancestors?
This brought about the creation
of Maidan Defense Units.
Some Maidan Defense Units were named
after the home towns of its participants.
WE ARE FORMING A WOMEN'S
RAPID REACTION UNI People came to Maidan to win.
This was a people's army...
and of course,
I came to train this army.
I taught them how to resist the attacks
of these monsters in uniforms.
We began to gather and train
how to behave correctly,
how to defend ourselves
and our friends,
how to control our emotions
not to provoke others,
and how to act legally
in tense situations.
We were patrolling
the perimeter of Maidan,
guarding and defending people.
We were doing our best to keep order.
There was not even a single bottle
of beer on Maidan and it's a fact.
The activists of Maidan
were people who stood here,
while the activists of AutoMaidan
were the car owners.
They were like an outer circle,
the cavalry of Maidan.
It was my school.
I never went to school before.
But I am staying here in Maidan.
I volunteered in the tech tent.
I was charging phones
and helping people,
and helping people use the Internet
so they can connect with their families.
President Yanukovych
entered into an agreement with Russia
and by doing so he distanced
the country even further from the EU.
I'm against Yanukovych.
He's not good for us as a president.
His Berkut beat a woman
in front of my eyes.
They beat girls, they beat boys.
They even beat me.
When I came here, I found many friends.
All of them are like my brothers.
I started writing stories
on my Facebook page
about people who came to Maidan.
I'd like to write a story about you.
-Really? Where have you seen me?
-I see you here every day.
I communicated with Serhiy Nigoyan,
I was writing a story about him
and where he came from.
That girl has drawn my portrait?
I'm supposed to live in this country.
This is my future, why I stay here.
All of us, we are one.
Brother for brother,
neighbor for neighbor.
In Maidan, we didn't have nationalities,
we didn't have language groups...
It was only people
who didn't want to live with the regime.
From the very beginning,
the representatives
of all religions were on Maidan,
as the "Men of Prayer."
We tried to help people of all means,
not only by prayer,
we communicated with people.
We tried to put their hearts
into what they were doing,
and keep their faith.
We supported people
in their aspirations,
concerning not only their future,
but also the future of our state.
Different religions came together
without conflict,
in order to achieve one mutual
and important goal.
You know, when people were singing
the national anthem every three hours,
I had a feeling
that it became a prayer.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Happy New Year, Ukraine!
Instead of conducting negotiations,
the government chose to unleash
a bacchanalia of dictatorship.
Vote by raising your hands.
We live in the 21st century
in a civilized country,
and our lawmakers in the parliament
vote by raising hands?
What a show! Come on!
What are you doing, guys?
You vote and adopt
a series of stupid, tyrannical laws!
It's absurd!
According to these laws, you can't
wear motorcycle helmets and hard hats,
you can't drive
a group of 5 cars at once,
even at weddings and funerals...
I found my ski helmet
and an old camouflage jacket
and wore them to work.
I told them,
"You can arrest me any time".
People were wearing pots,
diving masks and flippers.
They took anything they could find.
You see a lot of people
wearing kitchen pots.
They forgot to put that in these laws.
They should add that immediately.
The people interpreted it
with such irony and defiance.
Every 20th person showed the government
how pissed off they were
with these so-called "laws".
The catalyst were the laws
passed on January 16th.
That weekend we had a veche.
Every weekend we had a veche,
a meeting of the people in Maidan.
It's already been two months
and no results!
This is the 9th veche,
and we need a concrete plan!
On Sunday, the opposition
leaders came out to the stage,
but hadn't said anything worthwhile again.
Shame!
People were so disappointed
by their lack of action,
they decided to tell
these politicians where to get off.
I'm one of you.
Everyone knows about AutoMaidan
and what we are doing for Ukraine.
We are standing by your side.
We'll march peacefully to the Parliament,
and we'll stand there
as long as it takes.
Those who agree, raise your hands!
Thank you!
I'm calling to all lawmakers of Ukraine.
You are chosen by the people!
Each of you must come to the Parliament
and cancel these shameful laws!
Otherwise tomorrow,
we'll be arrested and thrown in jail!
For what?
For expressing our civil rights?
For 30 minutes we were trying
to persuade the police to back down,
and let us approach
the Parliament peacefully.
That's it.
They responded by cursing at us.
I appeal to the police.
You gave an oath to serve
the Ukrainian nation,
not to Yanukovych and his gang!
Free the way for peaceful citizens!
While standing in the right flank,
we tried to find a compromise
with the Internal Troops peacefully.
Turmoil began in the left flank.
Vitali Klitschko and other opposition
party leaders tried to pacify the crowd,
but the protesters didn't listen to them.
At this point they had
no authority or influence anymore.
People were disillusioned
by their inability to
take real responsibility for something.
There, on Hrushevskogo,
everyone's patience ran out.
In what country in the world would people
be able to live with these laws?
It's easier to go directly to prison.
Can you imagine?
Infuriating people to such despair
that a banker and one of the most
influential attorneys from Lviv
came to Hrushevskogo Street
to throw stones at the police.
Strategically our position on
Hrushevskogo Street was very unfavorable.
But it was a perfect vantage-ground
for the Internal Troops.
They started shooting at us
with rubber bullets.
They also attached bolts and screws
to stun grenades,
so they caused
as much damage as possible.
The Ukrainian people
will determine who's in charge.
We chose this president,
and we can take him out.
People were not afraid here.
It was more frightening to watch
all of these events on TV,
than to come here to participate in them.
From here, we were throwing
Molotov cocktails and stones.
Take gas, machine oil and saltpeter,
mix it together and shake well.
Take a cloth rag and make a wick,
light it up and throw.
Convict out!
Mostly here we were burning tires,
so the fire could keep
the Berkut from attacking us.
After several days of hard resistance,
people were very exhausted.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
And at sunrise,
when everyone was extremely tired,
Berkut realized...
"It's the right moment to attack.
Let's clean up this place."
People on our side
were disorganized and confused.
Protesters and civilians
mixed with policemen,
mixed with the soldiers,
a chaotic jumble.
When they attack people,
the police went first,
behind them were the Berkut
followed by the Titushky.
Titushky are hired thugs,
who have no dignity or conscience.
They sold themselves out for money.
Many of them were released from prison,
criminals that were hired to do this job.
We're here for an idea.
You're standing here
in the cold for an idea?
We want to keep order in Ukraine.
Titushky...
they don't have principles.
For less than ten bucks,
they are willing to not only wave a flag,
but also to kill.
Titushky love only money.
They betrayed the Ukrainian nation.
Titushky were standing behind me,
waiting for the right moment,
and they knocked me to the ground.
After that, some Berkut
ran up to me and I got captured.
Bring him back!
Bring him fucking back!
They tried to dishonor him,
but instead dishonored themselves.
He stood with his head held high.
He behaved with dignity.
It caused a great
emotional outburst among people.
People were standing
15 feet from a Berkut policeman,
and he was shooting without stopping.
But people took sticks
and started attacking him.
The troops were shooting
directly at the Red Cross signs.
Don't shoot!
-Where is that wounded guy?
-Get away!
I'm a doctor!
I'm just a doctor!
I mean you no harm!
I showed him the sign of the Red Cross,
but he shot my leg.
The first victims with
wounded eyes appeared that day.
When we brought in the third man
with no eyes...
I came outside and
had a panic attack.
FIRST AID
The first improvised
medical aid station
was located near
a sushi restaurant.
People brought bottles
with drinking water,
lemons, vinegar...
Anything they thought
could help with tear gas.
In the morning,
when Berkut attacked,
they completely destroyed
that medical station.
You bastards!
Don't touch the medicine!
They threw stun grenades inside
and sprayed tear gas.
We had to run away.
All the medicine was left behind.
We couldn't even imagine that
something like this could happen.
Among the rubber bullets
that were distributed to Berkut,
it seems someone substituted them
with live ammunition on purpose.
It was scary, to be honest with you,
when they started to shoot people
with real bullets.
You hear the sound of
a bullet passing your head,
and see people dropping dead.
I want to ask them
who gave birth to you?
A mother or a wolf?
How could this happen?
Against your own people?
One of the most horrible moments
I've seen was on Hrushevskogo Street,
when the Berkut shot Serhiy Nigoyan.
How could such a good person be killed?
He was so young and had
his whole life ahead of him.
Everyone who knew Serhiy
always said the same thing about him,
how pure, how beautiful
and how open this human being was.
We still can't believe he's gone.
We wait...
I'm here and I keep thinking that
he is up there on Hrushevskogo Street.
I can't believe...
Those in power were banking that
Maidan would fall apart on its own,
but after the events on Hrushevskogo,
and after the first deaths,
Zhyznevskyi and Nigoyan...
people decided to stay until the end.
For us, it was the point of no return.
I realized...
that the time of this government
has come to an end.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to the nation!
-Death to our enemies!
The AutoMaidan is trapped.
Tonight's main story is attacks
on the AutoMaidan Activists.
ATTACKS ON AUTOMAIDAN
Tonight they were
patrolling Kyiv streets
and hospitals where wounded
activists were brought.
But their cars were attacked
and many activists were arrested
and kidnapped by Berkut.
Our friends were missing,
so we went out to look for them...
but on the way...
It was a well-planned trap.
Berkut and traffic police
participated in it.
So we were captured.
-What are you doing?
-This is my wife!
We are just going home!
What the hell are you doing?
First, they smashed
and destroyed our car.
Then they dragged us out
on the street and beat us.
After that they put us in a bus
and took us to Mariyinsky Park...
...where they released me.
They were severely beating the men,
who were getting terribly injured.
They were beating us to death.
-Are you insane? Call the police!
-People are kidnapped here!
-Don't block the road.
-Call the police! People are kidnapped!
I thought I would never
see my friends alive.
Considering how many people
were kidnapped and injured,
at that point,
it was really scary.
I just came from negotiations with
the President of Ukraine, Yanukovych.
As of today, Berkut will stop
using force against activists.
All kidnapped protesters
will be released.
We don't believe it!
I have no guarantee
these are not lies,
we've been deceived many times...
If we go home
we can be caught!
They'll kill us one by one!
And nobody judges them!
Why does the government
not judge its own crimes?
When I went to do my regular
night security watch,
my little daughter came to me,
and asked me not to go.
"Poppa," she said, "I'll grow up...
and bring them down myself."
And I told her,
"If we don't take them down now,
no one will ever be able to do it."
Maidan started in November.
It was able to survive through
many difficult events.
But the moment came when the people
of Maidan formulated their own goals,
as a set of specific political demands.
The first thing we insisted on
was the release of political prisoners.
The second one was
establishing equality of power
between the parliament
and the president
to establish well-balanced
branches of government.
The third one was
early presidential re-elections.
Those for this, raise your hand!
Only under these three conditions
could Maidan end in a peaceful way.
These were our demands in February
and they were supposed to be discussed
and approved by the parliament.
On February 18th, a crowd of unarmed
people gathered to go to the Parliament.
People without weapons or anything.
A lot of patriots
responded to the call
for a peaceful rally
to the parliament.
We hope that our
representatives will hear us!
We supposed that a peaceful protest
and rally to the parliament,
supported by
a great number of people,
would become a turning point,
and we would finally be heard.
Waiting for us there were the police,
Berkut, and Titushky.
Remember when you were children,
you were taught to love Ukraine.
Remember what your
first teachers told you.
I didn't know how all this would end.
They just started killing us.
Titushky that were in Mariyinsky Park
on February 18th
were different than they were before.
They were well trained
and organized.
It was a well-planned action.
Titushky were allowed to do
things that the policemen weren't.
Come on, finish him!
They behaved like animals.
When we saw black clouds of smoke
rise over Hrushevskogo Street,
and we realized tires were
burning on Instytutska Street,
we went there.
At the intersection of
Instytutska and Shelkovichna Street,
Berkut shot at people from rooftops.
They swore an oath
to serve the Ukrainian nation
but they wound up serving others.
Very bad people.
They got used to living a vile and
nasty life and so they do vile things.
They were rotten.
Berkut were throwing bricks at us.
They had no mercy.
Neither did we.
It wasn't like a fictional show
we watch on TV.
It was a shocking reality we faced.
Call the ambulance!
Hold his legs!
Call the ambulance, quick!
Since Berkut had guns and grenades,
and we challenged them
without firearms,
we had to retreat back to Maidan.
They occupied top positions,
the October Palace and the footbridge.
They had perfect firing positions.
Knowing military tactics,
I realized that we were trapped.
You are fighting against
your own brothers and sisters!
In that critical moment on Maidan,
behind the people forming a barricade,
people were on their knees
praying with rosary beads.
These are your people!
Don't follow these unlawful orders!
Berkut started throwing
Molotov cocktails at us from over there.
Our side didn't lose courage
and began throwing tires into the fire
to make them choke from the smoke.
The wind and a higher power
were on our side,
and the smoke was
stifling them on the top.
We have to stop them with fire!
The fire is our shield!
Many people were scared.
But we still stood there.
Nobody ran away.
I was shooting at them
with my slingshot.
I hit a few of them.
It was a dramatic and difficult night.
People didn't talk.
They just were looking
into each other's eyes,
into each other's soul.
I have never seen such courage.
I was watching people and wondering,
"When will they run?"
And I'd understand, if they did.
But they didn't.
They were fighting...
They were fighting to the death.
It might sound overstated, but at that
moment it looked exactly like that.
People were fighting to the death.
They were fighting for Ukraine.
We were inside the Trade Union House
when it all started.
They came from the top.
The Trade Union House
was also used as a hospital,
and there were lots of wounded.
Today, as of now
there are about 20 dead
and there are about 400 wounded.
It's mass murder.
The police and Berkut came and
started throwing flash grenades.
They did everything
to burn this building down,
because it was
the headquarters of the revolution.
When the fire started,
the biggest problem was
getting people out,
especially those
who weren't able to walk.
Hold on!
Many people died in this building.
Stop this action of killing people!
Go back to your kids,
go back to your wives,
go back to your families!
During this time in February,
Mykhaylivskyi Monastery once again
became a sanctuary for people.
At Mykhaylivskyi
we organized a hospital,
and again, a kitchen and
warm clothes drop-off.
I saw medical workers
from all over Ukraine,
from Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsya...
They were on duty 24/7
delivering medical care.
They brought everything
they could and did their best.
At first, only people from Kyiv
brought medicines and food,
then cars started arriving from Rivne,
Cherkassy and other cities.
Take that box.
There's Pantenol and painkillers.
And in the backyard...
a morgue.
The information about
30 dead is almost confirmed.
Unfortunately, we don't know
anything about victims
taken away by the Berkut
from Mariyinsky Park.
The tires were burning.
People were gathering
but nobody took any decisive actions.
I got expelled, but I came back
from another barricade and stayed.
They thought I was
too young to be there.
Some Berkut started to walk
on the burned ground.
People started throwing bricks at them,
when suddenly we heard
a burst of machine gun fire.
It confused all of us.
People thought that the Berkut
started shooting protesters,
while the Internal Forces thought that
the protesters were armed and shooting.
So they started to retreat.
The Berkut stayed and opened fire.
Take him to the medics!
Doctor!
Come on, let's carry him.
When people were climbing up that hill,
they realized that taking back this
territory would result in many casualties.
The shooting started over there.
There were concrete blocks
that Berkut used
as a shield and to shoot from.
He's injured, get him out of here!
Cover him!
Hold on!
Guys! Help!
They were shooting
and killing our people...
but we knew we couldn't retreat.
We had to bring it all to an end.
You can see the bullet holes left here.
You don't need to be a genius
to understand where the shots came from.
We are not afraid to die for freedom.
Freedom is for us.
Freedom is ours.
We will win,
and Ukraine will be part of Europe,
and Ukraine will be
part of the free world!
And we'll never be slaves.
We will be free.
A friend of mine died here,
Vitya Chmilenko.
He ran up Instytutska Street
with a stretcher to bring out the wounded.
He bent toward a wounded man
and then he got shot.
I have no words...
What kind of mother raised a man
to purposely target a person
just trying to help
his wounded friend?
They were even shooting priests.
These killers hold nothing sacred.
They can just as easily kill a holy man
the same as everyone else
they killed on Maidan.
The sniper attack
showed such depravity.
It was...
pure hatred...
of your own brothers.
We have to bring out and
carry some wounded, at least two!
They were going with these
wooden shields under the bullets
and didn't realize
that it was heroism.
I tried to persuade them
not to do this,
because they might be killed.
They answered,
"We came here to die."
They were driven
to make this country better,
so they were willing
to go under the bullets,
understanding they might die,
and not come back.
I'm on the front line
at Instytutska Street.
I can't hear you.
Say something to Mom.
Hi, I just woke up.
In short, Moysey Vasyl Mykhailovych.
Moysey Vasyl Mykhailovych.
Tell her that you love her.
Mom, I want to tell you something...
Mom, I want you to know...
Mom...
I love you.
You know what was
the most difficult thing?
To decide to admit
that a person is dead.
There are things that
I hate myself for...
When you resuscitate one...
and people continue bringing
more and more victims...
you understand that
you might save that one,
but the others can be lost.
Bullet wounds are life-threatening.
You close someone's eyes and make
a decision to stop resuscitating him.
Then you move to the next victim.
Having to decide who was already dead,
that was the hardest thing.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
-Glory to the nation!
-Death to our enemies!
-Ukraine!
-Above all!
I can't accept...
after all the wars we've had in the world,
we are still resolving our problems
by killing each other.
We lost here...
the best people of our nation.
Forever in our hearts.
We paid a huge price.
I want to thank you...
Convict out!
Convict out!
We heard what our so-called leaders
agreed to with the government...
What happened today at
the Parliament was important.
...to have new elections in December.
I remember my father told me,
"This is our end...
Who wasn't killed, will be killed.
Who wasn't in prison, will go to prison."
Today was a small victory.
A small victory because of you.
I realized that
we couldn't leave it like that.
Our friends that we've lost
would not forgive us
if we accepted those terms
from the government.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
Here's what I want to say.
We're ordinary people, talking
to these politicians standing behind me.
Yanukovych will not be
the president for one more year!
Tomorrow by 10:00 a.m.,
he must resign!
Resign! Resign!
My compatriot was shot down!
He had a wife and a baby!
And our "leaders"
shake hands with these murderers!
Shame on them!
Shame on them!
Shame on them!
I speak to you on behalf of my entire
Defense Unit that my father joined too.
If tomorrow by 10:00 a.m.
you do not make a statement
about Yanukovych's resignation,
I swear, we will go on
an armed offensive!
I ask you, dear colleagues,
to vote.
The Ukrainian parliament,
expressing the will
of the Ukrainian nation, declares,
first, the President of Ukraine,
Viktor Yanukovych,
has resigned in an unconstitutional way,
and will not be fulfilling
the duties of the president.
Second, schedule early
presidential election
for May 25, 2014.
Third, this resolution comes into effect
from the moment of its adoption.
328 lawmakers voted in favor.
The resolution is adopted!
For 23 years, we only had
our independence on paper.
But now, so many people sacrificed
their lives that it has become real.
Maidan was a small territory
that held great bravery.
For the future of our children,
people were prepared to die.
Even those who had
no children of their own.
The people came out
and showed that we have the power.
Muslims. Jews, Christians
of different denominations, Buddhists,
and people who don't
subscribe to a particular faith,
treated each other with respect.
And I can say that
a new society was born.
-Glory to Ukraine!
-Glory to the heroes!
We were born in the '90s,
we were born in
an independent Ukraine,
we know the borders of our country,
we understand the meaning
of word "patriotism".
Glory to the heroes!
It's an amazing generation
that grew up during the independence.
They grew up as free people.
No one can make a free person kneel.
Maidan was a singular experience,
when everyone felt real unity,
real patriotism,
and felt the presence of God.