Ukrainian police on Wednesday broke through the barricades built by protesters at the scene of clashes in Kiev as activists said that one person had been shot dead by police.
Police stormed the barricades shortly after 6:00am GMT on Grushevsky Street in Kiev, an AFP correspondent said. New clashes broke out as the police arrested protesters.
Meanwhile the medical service of the Ukraine protest movement in Kiev said one male protester had died from wounds sustained after being shot by a police sniper.
The interior ministry confirmed the death but said it was not clear what had caused it, the Interfax news agency said.
The medical centre for protesters also said another activist died after falling from the top of the ceremonial entrance to the Dynamo Kiev football stadium adjacent to the clashes. This has not been confirmed by the interior ministry.
The police, protected with helmets and riot shields, advanced some 50 metres (160 feet) towards the Dnipro Hotel which lies at the end of Grushevsky Street.
However the police then retreated back to their former positions, although it was not clear if this was just to regroup before launching a new assault.
{{/usCountry}}However the police then retreated back to their former positions, although it was not clear if this was just to regroup before launching a new assault.
{{/usCountry}}Protesters, caught by surprise in the early morning, responded by hurling stones at the police.
There was so far no move by the police against the main protest camp on Independence Square.