page_title: 11 December 2013 Euromaidan assault
section_title: Beginning of the assault
hierarchical_section_title: 11 December 2013 Euromaidan assault / Events / Beginning of the assault
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Штурм Майдана
context_page_description: The assault of Euromaidan by security forces on 11 December 2013 was an attempt by Viktor Yanukovych’s government to break up the Euromaidan protest through a night assault using Berkut special police units and interior ministry troops. Their tactics included the displacement of frontal peaceful protesters from lightly barricaded camps at the Independence Square and part of Khreshchatyk Street which is near Bessarabska Square.
  The government cited the need to maintain public order as one of the grounds for the assault, as well as the enforcement of the resolution of the Pecherskyi District Court, which was read before the protesters during the night of the attack. It was found later that such a procedure was illegal since public enforcements are only allowed to be read and served by 10 pm only. The court order was also, in fact, explicit in stating that Vitali Klitschko was forbidden to hinder citizens moving along the main streets. Vitali Klitschko himself was neither informed of that resolution nor given the opportunity to appeal against it. People responsible for the unlawful assault against peaceful protesters have not been identified.
context_section_description: The Berkut special police units began their attempt to clear up Euromaidan at 1:02 am. The Berkut soldiers began to break down the barricades on Instytutska Street, while starting a fight with "Freedom" party deputies Ruslan Koshulynskyi, Oleksii Kaida, Andrii Mishchenko and Oleh Osuhovskyi. Two of the deputies sustained injuries on their faces and bodies.
  At 1:33 a.m. Andriy Shevchenko informed the protesters that Berkut forces were going to break the barricades from the side of Mykhailivska Square. Violent fights occurred in the Square as the Berkut started destroying the barricade on Instytutska Street, and Titushky started plundering the camp. Although the government  concentrated a large number of security forces around the square, protesters did not give up and their number eventually grew. Berkut used tear gas on the protesters and the clouds of the smoke were visible over the crowd as reports about arrested and injured people, including MPs, were being aired in the news. Calls for mass mobilization of Kyiv citizens to the Maidan were spread and many people responded to the call.
caption: Berkut assault on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
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