Between 21–22 January
Three demonstrators were killed during the Hrushevskoho Street riots. On 21 January, the first death occurred after a 22-year old man fell from atop the 13 meter high colonnade in front of Dynamo Stadium while confronted by Berkut police, and suffered fractures to his spine’s cervical vertebrae. The second death occurred at 6 a.m. on the 22nd, where police shot and killed a protester climbing the barricades in the conflict zone. It was reported he received 4 gunshot wounds, including to the head, and died immediately on the scene before being taken to hospital. The third, a Belarusian man, was also shot dead by police. Clashes spread to Lutheran Street near the Presidential Administration, with protesters lobbing molotov cocktails. Activists who sought treatment at hospitals were ‘disappearing’. Prominent EuroMaidan activists Ihor Lutsenko and Yuriy Verbytsky were abducted by five unknown men on 21 January at 4 a.m. from Oleksandrivska Hospital in Kiev. Lutsenko was found beaten in the woods the next day, but Verbytsky was murdered; his body found on 22 January.
In response to the escalating violence, police were permitted by the government to increase measures in stopping the riots and protests. Police were now able to block roads to restrict access to the city, and allowed the use of water cannons against rioters regardless of air temperature, which was -10 C at the time of the announcement. Despite this, some 50,000 came to Euromaidan to show support.
Tanks were reported to be traveling via rail from Chernihiv to Kiev, but government sources claimed they were headed instead to Odessa. Police also illegally published the names and addresses of all known AutoMaidan activists.
22 January
The president presented a number of medals to various figures in the police forces and military for their service in the conflict.
Opposition leaders presented the president with a 24-hour window to give in to demands. Vitali Klitschko warned the government that protesters would “go on the attack” if their demands were not met by the next day
Several thousand titushky (pro governmental paid provocateurs) surrounded the U.S. Embassy in Kiev under the auspice of “Kievans for a Clean City”. Crowd leader Ivan Procenko blamed American financing and interference for the events in Kiev, and picketers then egged the embassy. Later, a number of attendees engaged in an altercation with promoters after they were not paid for their time and participation in the picket.
23 January
Police raided and destroyed a Red Cross Euromaidan medical center. Carrying on from the previous night, it was reported by activist groups that television blackouts were taking place across the country to channels which carried Euromaidan coverage, and internet and social media blocks were also under way.