Kyiv brutality claims 100

(Updated) Protesters remain in downtown Kyiv after another bloody street battle between demonstrators and Ukrainian police. Some of the video may not be suitable for all viewers.

The death toll in this week’s violence has now reportedly reached 100. And at least one member of Ukraine’s Olympic team has pulled out of the games.

The Ukrainian president’s office blames the opposition for ending a truce, but the opposition says police snipers killed dozens of people. The casualties climbed quickly, with some carried to a nearby hotel where protesters have set up an emergency medical clinic.

Along the barricades the protesters dug up bricks to use as weapons against police. And in one scene it appears one of them fires a shotgun, but it’s not known what type of ammunition was used.

Today the European Union’s foreign ministers decided to impose sanctions against officials in Ukraine who are held responsible for the violence. They include a travel ban to the 28-nation bloc, and freezing the officials’ assets in EU countries.

Canada is extending its travel ban to cover more senior Ukranian officials, and is promising economic sanctions as well.

This is having an impact on the Olympics. Ukrainian skiier Bogdana Matsotska has officially withdrawn from tomorrow’s slalom competition. She’s planning to return to Ukraine to support the anti-government protests.

There are rerports that more athletes on the team are planning to leave too. But today Ukraine national Olympic committee president Sergey Bubka pledged that athletes will continue to participate. “The Ukraine Olympic team will continue to participate in Sochi and hopefully raise the spirits of our compatriots back home.”

“I share the common view that athletes who are representing Ukraine at the 2014 winter Olympic games are promoting the mission to unite our nation at this horrifying time.”

And the Olympics isn’t the only connection between what’s happening in Ukraine right now and Russia. The anti-government protests began when Ukranian president Victor Yaunkovich announced his government turned down a trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.

Russia is Ukraine’s biggest trading partner, and today its foreign minister blamed the west for the ongoing violence.

The call for sanctions is resounding here in Canada. This morning at Queen’s Park MPPs voted unanimously to give each caucus five minutes to weigh in on the situation. They talked about how Ukrainians have been coming to the country for a hundred years for a better life; they helped build the railroad and the country we know today. Several MPPs themselves have Ukrainian heritage.

The next generation of Ukrainian-Canadians are equally affected by the violence overseas.

“That means, ‘I’m Ukrainian, I can’t keep calm.'”

These students in grades four to eight are making political posters. They take Ukrainian instruction in the mornings before class starts at St Ann school — a program brought over when Holy Spirit school closed and its Ukrainian program ended.

The Barton-Sherman area is like a hub for the Ukrainian community.

Matthew Dach’s class started discussing the current political upheaval months ago. “It’s a part of their heritage. It’s a part of who they are.”

And what do the kids have to say? “Every time my mom calls my grandma, she just cries. She has nothing to say.”

“Just a few days ago I saw someone on fire. I saw people with blood. I saw police hitting them. It’s just scary.”

“Ukraine’s just like us, they want to live free, and they have all those people who are beating them up and killing them. My mom is scared for them. She doesn’t like it.”

The class is sending a petition to Ottawa, calling for sanctions against the Ukrainian government. A similar plea was made at Queen’s Park. Premier Kathleen Wynne also called on Canada to deploy observers to hospitals, clinics, courts and morgues.

“This will ensure the fair treatment of the demonstrators and accurate reporting of fatalities. The world is not only watching but will act and hold them responsible.”

Conservative Christine Elliott asked that the flag at Queen’s Park be lowered to half staff, for a day of mourning. “It’s time for the people of Ukraine to have what we have, peace, security and a future they decide for themselves.”