Ukraine's Interior Minister reports revolts "in many regions of the country".

[pampango]

Ukraine’s state security service said it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation” across the country after the seizure of administrative buildings and arms and ammunition depots by “extremist groups”.

A live feed from Kiev’s Independence Square currently shows a tense standoff between the riot police and protesters, as the occasional shot rings out.

Security chief Oleksandr Yakimenko said in a statement: “In many regions of the country, municipal buildings, offices of the interior ministry, state security and the prosecutor general, army units and arms depots, are being seized. Courtrooms are being burned down, vandals are destroying private apartments, killing peaceful citizen.”

He added that the last 24 hours, had shown “a growing escalation of violent confrontation and widespread use of weapons by extremist-oriented groups.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2014/feb/19/ukraine-25-dead-after-police-storm-kiev-protest-camp-live-updates

Of course, the anti-government protesters are always "terrorists" and "extremists". Angry citizens would never revolt against their government - in the world view of the elite.

[Adsos Letter]

1. Arms and ammunition?

Army units?

Think any of those army units are joining the protesters?

[2naSalit]

10. Yup.

that was reported somewhere last night. Can't recall where I read it though.

That being the case, the president is relying on his private mercenary gang to promote this violence on the people... his "special forces"... you know, like ours. Looks like a civil war is starting.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. Too bad Putin has to play nice for the cameras at the Olympics.

This was the perfect time for this to happen. Putin isn't going to want to be seen as invading the Ukraine while the Olympics are happening. It's funny as hell. I'll bet he's boiling inside. Hope he gets lots of painful ulcers.

[bemildred]

3. Gee, some guy was predicting this just last night on the TV. nt

[malaise]

4. Who's funding it - the EU, the US or both? n/t

[pampango]

5. Who funded Occupy or Tiananmen or Bangkok? It's usually "evil foreigners" in government's eyes.

"'Our own people' would never rise up against us." The US government, the Chinese government, the Thai government all believed that. "These people must be dupes of a foreign power." The elite always disparages the authenticity of large scale protest movements directed against themselves.

AFAIK, the Ukrainian Interior minister called them "terrorists", "vandals" and "extremists" but not "foreign-funded".

The only one I have heard that is throwing around billions of dollars to influence events in Ukraine is Russia which has been quite "generous" with its aid offers - as long as Yanukovych stays in power and Ukraine does not sign an agreement with the EU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. How about the people themselves are, I know surprising,

fighting for their rights? Do some reading on this. It is not as neat as foreigners or CIA garble, garble. I started doing the crash course, since I fear I might have to write an article sooner or later. Of course, not to be linked on DU.

[pscot]

8. Things are never what they seem

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. We are actually watching the revolution

Televised, I think.

[joeybee12]

9. Ah, Putin's puppet speaks...probaby peaceful demonstrations

and they use force to quell them...I didn't think I could have Putin more...he is scum.