Ukrainian policeman have been issued live ammo and authorized to use it: (70 confirmed dead)

[Are_grits_groceries]

@EllenBarryNYT:
Ukraine's interior minister confirms he has decreed distribution of firearms to police & authorized use of live ammo.
http://cir.ca/news/ukraine-protests



(Photo/David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

@nycjim

May god have mercy on them.......

@nycjim:
LATEST from #Ukraine: 70 protesters now confirmed dead, most from gunshot wounds.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Do you know how long ago that decision was made?

Was it before or after the sniper shootings?

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Shortly before I posted this. nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. The arsenal is built:

@nycjim: Building the arsenal in #Kyiv.
via @reuters photographer Vasily Fedosenko


Brutal!
The protesters are using these, bricks, and whatever else. The government is reporting that policemen have been shot. That may be, but the majority of the protesters don't appear to be armed according to reports.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Breaking news reported 67 police were captured by protestors.

Which group/faction of protestors was not defined.

I must say, the videos I have watched looked and sounded like all out war.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. It is from what I can tell.

I am following tweets from reporters all over the area trying to stay alive and send stories.

[Beacool]

4. Oh, no........

I hope that they don't become another Syria.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. No.

The government with Russia's backing will completely crush this with a lot of bloodshed or a truce will be called and hopefully some agreement can be reached. I have no idea how and with ho.

[malthaussen]

7. A "truce" was already called.

Somebody didn't get the Word.

This is a right mess, and I'm amazed anyone would voluntarily stick around there if they had an alternative.

-- Mal

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. The truce blew up before it got off the ground.

Contrary to popular belief by some, there are many ordinary citizens in this fight and not just RW thugs.
It is a right mess, and there is no easy solution.

[MadrasT]

6. OMG this is just awful.

Some of my people are from Ukraine.

[SQUEE]

9. My mother's side of the family was taken from the Ukraine during WWII

I still have some distant family members there, this hits home for me.

[redqueen]

12. It's a full on civil war then.

I hope the violence doesn't spread too far. I know it has already started spreading in the west.

So tragic.

[PaulKersey]

13. hope we stay out of this mess

[bemildred]

14. Apparently, not near enough of them obeyed. nt

[backscatter712]

15. Looks like the protesters are winning.

Yanucovich has fled, the parliament voted to dismiss him, the police have stood down.