Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square on Wednesday, preparing to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence.
After hours of clashes, police had gained ground overnight in Independence Square, center of three months of protests against President Viktor Yanukovich, and were occupying about a third of the square at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Wednesday.
The square resembled a battle-zone with black smoke and flames belching from a trade union building, used as an anti-government headquarters.
The Health Ministry, updating the casualty toll, said 25 people had been killed in the fighting in the capital, of which nine were police officers.
Many were killed by gunshot and hundreds of people were injured, with dozens in serious condition, police and opposition representatives said.
Police, protected by a barrier of shields, were destroying protesters' tents and anti-government posters on the eastern side of the square.
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