buschwacker

Until /u/ukraine_riot can respond I'll throw in my own knowledge. I was lucky enough to be in Kyiv for two and a half weeks from mid December-early January, time that I spent ferrying medical supplies to the central clinic that has been established on the Maidan. This means I missed the recent violence, but I have intimate knowledge of the Maidan demonstrations.

The mood on the Maidan is simultaneously joyous, because those demonstrating there feel that they are finally able change the corrupt status quo of their country, and tense because they know that the regime will only react with force to the Euromaidan. People are also tired because it takes a serious mental toll to demonstrate for so long when the stakes are so high; it is understood that if the demonstrations fail, the government will be out to "teach them a lesson" which means beatings, disappearances, or at least harassment. The overriding mood, however, is raw determination. I was told by a middle-aged man from Zhytomyr (many of those on the Maidan are middle-aged or older; they say that they hold the fort day to day so the youngsters with families and jobs can come out after work) that he is in it for the duration, but to please make the duration short because the situation is so difficult for so many.

The young men I saw were angry, and for excellent reason in my opinion. The explosion of violence against the police I think has come from a seething rage that has been building in the face of the government's cowardice in dealing with the protest movement. Journalists, female and male, have been ambushed by unnamed persons while alone, beaten, and left in ditches. Recently, activists with the "Automaidan," who use their personal vehicles to rapidly respond to calls for help, have suffered a crackdown where thirty or more have disappeared. The body of a journalist has been found in a field outside Kyiv, beaten to death. All institutions are in the pocket of the Yanukovych government, so the police are no help.

How would you feel if your government was so grossly abusive against anyone who called it on its abuses? These young men are angry as hell. I'm angry as hell and I'm not even Ukrainian. I would venture to guess that's the mood right now at Hrushevskogo street, where the riots are taking place. On the Maidan, I'm sure the sense of raw determination to stay the course is as strong as ever. I hope this provides some insight into your question and I look forward to hearing from /u/ukraine_riot, who I wish all the best in his struggle for decency and a democratic government.

Edit: I'd like to use the gilding of this comment to direct people to sources of information about Ukraine that I rely on to stay abreast of the situation:

Euromaidan PR on Facebook

Euromaidan Journalist Collective on Facebook

Babylon '13, a YouTube channel that creates artistic films which I believe capture the feeling of being there rather than transmit information.

ЄвроМайдан – EuroMaydan, the original Facebook group of the protest movement (Ukrainian language, occasionally posts in English)

Each of you who stand out there whether on the Maidan or on Hrushevskogo is a hero in my mind. Thank you your courage and determination. I cannot imagine what you and your family are going through during this difficult time for Ukraine, but please understand that all free people around the world are on your side. We are watching you live as you fight for your dignity against a brutally oppressive regime. Please do stay safe and do not lose hope.

People do what they can for as long as they are able. A great number of those on the Maidan have come there from elsewhere and either cannot find work or are at a point in life where they can devote their time to protest. This is why the majority of people on the Maidan day-to-day are over 50 years old. They say that they are holding the fort for the youngsters with jobs and families who come out after work.

However, one of the continuing triumphs of the Euromaidan is its organization and durability. Ukrainians have banded together and organized an efficient protest camp in the heart of Kyiv. They have volunteer security forces, medical personnel, cooks, firewood delivery people, warm clothing collection and distribution, and IT services. The Euromaidan is a marvel of grassroots organization. There is even a gigantic stage with a concert-grade sound system constantly occupied with speakers, musicians, and opposition politicians. The protest movement has proven durable because it is so well-organized, but this can only carry it so far toward its goal of ousting the Yanukovych government. But still, it is one of the triumphs of Euromaidan that it has shown Ukrainians that when they band together and get the government out of the way, they can accomplish just about anything.

You're welcome. Initially, when the protests were about the EU agreement, I was afraid that they would die out too. The government took care of that when it made them about its own corruption and oppressiveness by beating those students and young people for standing up for what they believed in. Now, the Euromaidan protests are about the general dysfunction and tyranny of the regime, not about the EU. There is no danger of them dying out any more.

*Edited for typos

As a foreigner also desperate to help who has been involved with Euromaidan since the beginning, I will tell you that the best thing you can do to help is to write to your senators/MPs/government leaders demanding concrete action by them against the specific members of the Ukrainian government who are responsible for the ongoing repressions against the people of Ukraine. Governments around the world are well-aware of who is to blame, but so far have done very little in the way of concrete action.

Donating money is very risky because the Euromaidan movement is highly dispersed and there have been instances of phony donation accounts. However, here is a donation page that you can use if you still desire to donate money to the Euromaidan movement directly. DONATE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. I DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOST DONATIONS. http://helpeuromaidan.info/donate

Unfortunately, there is little that foreigners can do to help directly because of how volatile the situation is. But any support, even if it is just talking to your friends on Facebook to spread awareness of the situation in Ukraine, is helpful.