The anti-government protests in Ukraine are at their most violent point. At least 18 people, including seven policemen, have died so far Tuesday. Hundreds more have been injured.

One of the injured was Oleksandr Turchynov, one of the opposition leaders, who was hit by shrapnel but says "he's okay."

The police tried to storm Independence Square, aka Maidan, where activists have been camping out and protesting en masse since early December. Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko remained defiant, telling supporters, "we will not leave here. This is an island of freedom. We will defend it," according to Reuters.

The Russian-backed forces loyal to Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych were met with barrages of Molotov cocktails. Part of the encampment was engulfed in flames.

Previously, police had gathered around the square and clashed with protesters, but this time seemed to be a more assertive effort. Earlier police asked women and children to leave Maidan so they can begin an "anti-terrorist operation."

Basically, things could get ugly tonight.

Here is a frequently updated live blog from The Interpreter.

It's a little after 23:00 in Kiev right now (16:00 EST). Here's the live stream:

Here are a few more images from today: Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest, Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. AP/Efrem Lukatsky An anti-government protester is engulfed in flames during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. AP/Efrem Lukatsky Riot police clash with anti-government protesters outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. AP/Efrem Lukatsky A protester throws stones as a car is on flames during clashes with police in Kiev February 18, 2014. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin Anti-government protesters clash with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. AP/Efrem Lukatsky A boy walks by a truck on fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev February 18, 2014. Several thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police near Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday, torching vehicles and hurling stones in the worst violence to rock the capital Kiev in more than three weeks. REUTERS/Andrew Kravchenko

Earlier the Ukrainian Berkut, the feared security apparatus of the state, gave protesters until 18:00 [11:00 EST] to end the demonstrations or face "tough measures." In response, the Right Sector, a radical far-right group, has called on protestors to start arming themselves.

The protests have become a struggle for the direction of the country and whether it stays within Moscow's orbit or moves toward integration with the EU.

Below is a video showing the pandemonium that took place earlier: