Ukrainian police to use firearms in limits of the law

Ukraine’s interior ministry announced that anti-government protesters had taken 67 security officials hostage on Thursday.

Following several days of relative calm, violence broke out on Tuesday when police stormed the main protester’s camp in Kiev’s Independence Square using tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades.

Ukraine’s police force has been authorized to use firearms during protests, following a statement issued by Interior Minister, Vitaly Zacharchenko on Thursday.

According to the statement posted in the ministry’s website, the police can use the firearms ‘in accordance with the law’.

Zacharchenko said 29 police officers have been killed, alongside scores of other victims.

He said that the police serve to protect public order without firearms.