As the sun rises on Kiev, here is an update on what happened during the night. A renewed push by riot police in the early pre-dawn hours followed the bloodiest day in the country’s post-Soviet history.

Riot police launched a renewed assault on the protest camp at 4am local time.



Large explosions, with reports of tear gas, flash grenades, and molotov cocktails as police advanced on protesters in the square, clashing at the front line.

Water cannons were brought in and used unsuccessfully to try and douse fires which also burned dow the Trade Union Hall. Several people were rescued by crane from the upper levels of the building which had become a makeshift headquarters for the protest movement.

The death toll is believed to be around 22, including Ukrainian journalist Vyacheslav Veremei of Kiev based newspaper, Vesti.

President Viktor Yanukovych has laid the blame for deaths at the opposition, and called for them to disassociate themselves from “radical forces.”

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko addressed the 20,000 odd people camped out at Independence Square, and urged them to hold their ground. He also said he’d walked out of talks with Yanukovych after the president demanded protesters leave the square unconditionally.

US senator John McCain added his voice to US and European leaders who urged Yanukovych to show restrain.

I’ll be handing over the blog to colleagues shortly who will take you through the day. The situation is showing no signs of resolution any time soon.