Ukraine marked a day of national mourning Tuesday, January 7 after a series of violent events broke out in the country’s capital.
At least three police officers, two protesters and one security guard were killed in the capital city of Kyiv after police used stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas in an effort to disperse a large crowd of protesters. As of January 7, at least 50 people have been injured.
Protests have been held in Kyiv since October, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial new law limiting the activities of non-governmental organizations associated with freedom of speech and media freedom.
In response to the day’s events, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal issued a statement offering condolences to the families of the deceased and condemning the violence. He also called on all sides to refrain from further escalation.
Separately, the Ukrainian military has vowed to hold accountable all those responsible for the violence. President Zelensky has also ordered an investigation into the incident and promised to “do everything possible to prevent similar cases in the future.”
The events of January 7 mark the start of a difficult year for Ukraine and its citizens. As tensions continue to mount, it remains to be seen what consequences the day’s violence will bring.
Kyiv observes day of mourning as Ukraine sees deadly start to 2024
