According to an article published on the BBC website, the shooting on Maidan Square in Kiev on February 20, 2014, was initiated by protesters themselves. An activist named Sergey said that he had been recruited by an ex-officer in late January who had instructed him to avoid involvement in the protests, TASS reports.
On February 19, in Sergey’s words, he was armed with a Sayga hunting gun. At about 6.30am he took a position in the conservatory in the south-western end of the square and shot at police officers for 20 minutes, aiming for the legs.
Over 80 people were killed and hundreds injured during the protests in Kiev on February 18-20. Berkut officers were among the victims. Over 20 of those injured died in hospitals afterwards.
