Euromaidan

Euromaidan, also known as the Maidan movement or the Maidan Revolution, refers to a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine that began in November 2013 in Kyiv and spread to other cities. The protests were sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to suspend preparations for signing an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. The term Euromaidan combines references to Europe and Kyiv’s central square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, which became the movement’s focal point.

What began as a pro-European protest evolved into a broader call for constitutional reform, an end to systemic corruption, and greater civil liberties. The movement drew students, civil society groups, and volunteers, organizing broad-based demonstrations as well as self-defense formations. In January 2014 the government enacted laws restricting protests, which provoked intensified demonstrations. In February 2014, clashes between protesters and security forces led to many deaths, including a group of protesters known as the Heavenly Hundred. On 22 February 2014 Yanukovych fled Kyiv, and parliament voted to remove him, leading to a transitional government.

The aftermath of Euromaidan included a shift toward closer ties with the European Union and reforms in Ukraine, but also significant geopolitical consequences. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the outbreak of conflict in the Donbas region followed, contributing to a broader Ukrainian crisis and altered security dynamics in Europe.