18 February 2014
Last updated at 20:06 ET
On Tuesday at least 18 people were killed, including seven policemen, in the worst violence seen in weeks.
Opposition leaders later met President Viktor Yanukovych but failed to find a solution to the crisis.
Vitaly Klitschko, leader of the opposition Udar (Punch) party, told Ukraine's Hromadske TV that the president had given the protesters only one option, leave the Maidan and go home.
The city's metro service was completely shut down, and there were reports that cars were being prevented from coming in to the capital.
Then shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation".
Large fires are burning in the square, including around these statues of Kiev's founders
Protesters have remained in the square, some setting off fireworks
Protesters have insisted they will not leave the Maidan
They advanced with an armoured vehicle, dismantling barricades and firing stun grenades and water cannon.
Protesters threw fireworks and petrol bombs, and lit fires to block off police. Many tents have been burned but it was unclear whether there had been casualties.
Late on Tuesday, the police tried to break through a barricade from the Evropeyska Square, but the attack was repelled.
In speeches from the main stage, protest leaders urged people already on the Maidan to stand firm, and called on Ukrainians elsewhere to come to the square.
"We will not go anywhere," said Mr Klitschko. "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it."
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who heads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Yanukovych to "stop the bloodshed and call a truce".
"We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop," he said.
Meanwhile, there are reports of unrest breaking out elsewhere
in Ukraine, including the western cities of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk.
Debate 'blocked' The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says this is a key moment for the country and that many people are scared of further escalation. Although this does not necessarily mean a civil war - as some have previously suggested - Ukraine remains dangerously divided, our correspondent says.
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Protesters were earlier blocked by police as they tried to march on parliament
Pro-EU protesters demanded his resignation and snap elections.
After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but people remained on the streets,
But MPs who support the president said the proposals had not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time was needed.
Some protesters outside parliament ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Police fired stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets. Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the latest violence, with each side blaming the other.
Protesters also attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in and setting it on fire before being forced out by police.
Police said late on Tuesday that at least 16 people had been killed, including seven police officers.
The White House said it was "appalled" by the violence, saying "force will not resolve the crisis".
Spokesman Jay Carney urged President Yanukovych to "restart a dialogue with opposition leaders today".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called for restraint and dialogue.
In other international messages of concern:
Ukraine crisis: Police storm main Kiev 'Maidan' protest camp
Another part of the world where this is so much history to be dealt with as well as present day realities and dreams for the future
Videos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26249330
The BBC's David Stern said the police were slowly moving into Independence Square
Police are storming the main protest camp in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, which has been occupied since November.
Explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and
large fires have broken out in Independence Square, known locally as the
Maidan. On Tuesday at least 18 people were killed, including seven policemen, in the worst violence seen in weeks.
Opposition leaders later met President Viktor Yanukovych but failed to find a solution to the crisis.
Vitaly Klitschko, leader of the opposition Udar (Punch) party, told Ukraine's Hromadske TV that the president had given the protesters only one option, leave the Maidan and go home.
Continue reading the main story
Despite the shock, many came to the main protest camp, the Maidan, to support activists trained to defend barricades from the riot police.
Crowds grew as streams of people, including women, headed to the Maidan. Many had to walk as Kiev's metro was completely shut down for the first time since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
The authorities said they had closed the metro because of the danger of "terror acts" in the capital.
At the scene
Exactly a month ago, the nation was shocked by the deaths of protesters during clashes with riot police in central Kiev. On Tuesday Ukrainians again saw dead bodies strewn on the city streets, dozens of injured people.Despite the shock, many came to the main protest camp, the Maidan, to support activists trained to defend barricades from the riot police.
Crowds grew as streams of people, including women, headed to the Maidan. Many had to walk as Kiev's metro was completely shut down for the first time since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
The authorities said they had closed the metro because of the danger of "terror acts" in the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovych's aide said the president was preparing to address the nation, without providing further details.
'Island of freedom'
Security forces had given protesters a deadline of 18:00 local
time (16:00 GMT) to leave Independence Square, the scene of a mostly
peaceful protest camp since November. The city's metro service was completely shut down, and there were reports that cars were being prevented from coming in to the capital.
Then shortly before 18:00 GMT, police announced over loudspeakers that they were about to begin "an anti-terror operation".
Large fires are burning in the square, including around these statues of Kiev's founders
Protesters have remained in the square, some setting off fireworks
Protesters have insisted they will not leave the Maidan
Protesters threw fireworks and petrol bombs, and lit fires to block off police. Many tents have been burned but it was unclear whether there had been casualties.
Late on Tuesday, the police tried to break through a barricade from the Evropeyska Square, but the attack was repelled.
In speeches from the main stage, protest leaders urged people already on the Maidan to stand firm, and called on Ukrainians elsewhere to come to the square.
"We will not go anywhere," said Mr Klitschko. "This is an island of freedom and we will defend it."
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who heads the Fatherland party, appealed to President Yanukovych to "stop the bloodshed and call a truce".
"We are talking about human lives and the future of the country which could be drowned in blood. Stop, Viktor Yanukovych, stop," he said.
Former deputy prime minister and activist Oleg Rybachuk: "The people are surrounded"
Debate 'blocked' The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says this is a key moment for the country and that many people are scared of further escalation. Although this does not necessarily mean a civil war - as some have previously suggested - Ukraine remains dangerously divided, our correspondent says.
Ukraine's unrest began in November, when President Yanukovych rejected a trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Protesters were earlier blocked by police as they tried to march on parliament
After weeks of unrest, the mood had calmed in recent days, but people remained on the streets,
Continue reading the main story
Key dates
- 21 November 2013: Ukraine suspends preparations for a trade deal with the EU, triggering protests
- 30 November: Riot police first take action against protesters, injuring dozens and fuelling anger
- 17 December: Russia agrees to buy Ukrainian government bonds and slash price of gas sold to Ukraine, taking wind out of protest movement
- 25 December: Renewed outcry after anti-government activist and journalist Tetyana Chornovol is beaten
- 19 January: Protests take a violent turn as demonstrators torch police buses and throw petrol bombs; police respond with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon. Several died in following days
- 18 February: Bloodiest day of the clashes sees civilians and police officers killed
Earlier on Tuesday, police
blocked protesters from marching on parliament, where MPs had been due
to debate proposed changes to the constitution which would have reduced
the powers of the president.
The debate did not take place. Mr Yatsenyuk said President
Yanukovych was blocking the reforms and that his allies "show no desire
whatsoever to end the political crisis".But MPs who support the president said the proposals had not been thoroughly discussed, and that more time was needed.
Some protesters outside parliament ripped up cobblestones to throw at police. Police fired stun and smoke grenades, and rubber bullets. Correspondents say it was unclear what sparked the latest violence, with each side blaming the other.
Protesters also attacked the headquarters of President Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, temporarily smashing their way in and setting it on fire before being forced out by police.
Police said late on Tuesday that at least 16 people had been killed, including seven police officers.
The White House said it was "appalled" by the violence, saying "force will not resolve the crisis".
Spokesman Jay Carney urged President Yanukovych to "restart a dialogue with opposition leaders today".
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: "Force will not resolve the crisis"
In other international messages of concern:
- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Ukraine was "experiencing dramatic hours" and that was up to the security forces to de-escalate the crisis. He said the EU could consider imposing sanctions.
- The UK's Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said such violence had "no place in a European democracy" and urged "all parties to return to the path of compromise and genuine negotiation".
- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton earlier said she was "deeply worried" about the unrest and urged politicians to "address the root causes".
- Russia blamed the earlier violence on "connivance by Western politicians and European structures" and their refusal to consider the "aggressive actions" of radical factions within the protest movement.
- Rinat Akhmetov, one of Ukraine's richest men - and a powerful financial backer of Mr Yanukovych - said there were "no circumstances that would justify the use of force against peaceful citizens" and called for negotiations to find a peaceful solution.
Ukraine's protests
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Regular updates as police storm the main anti-government protest camp in Kiev, after one of the most violent days the Ukrainian capital has seen for weeks.Camp stormed
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Clashes in pictures
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Crisis explained
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Radicalised country
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'We're all affected'
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Protest leaders
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East follows west?
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Groups at the sharp end
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