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How It All Began: 10 Years of Euromaidan in Ukraine

Ten years ago, on November 21, 2013, mass demonstrations erupted in the center of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, leading to a coup d'etat. Initially, the people were criticizing the suspension of the signing of an association agreement with the EU by the authorities, which later led to a "color revolution."
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Subsequently, the mass protests, endorsed by Western states, turned into riots a few months later and culminated in a coup d'etat, which was supported by the West. In February 2014, Viktor Yanukovych, the incumbent president of Ukraine, who was legally elected and recognized by all other countries as the president, was still in power. However, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) "removed" him from power, despite having no legal basis to perform such an action, thus, violating the Ukrainian constitution. Still remaining as the legitimate president, Viktor Yanukovych was forced to leave Ukraine. Later, Petro Poroshenko was elected president.
The Western leaders wholeheartedly endorsed the coup, recognizing Petro Poroshenko as the new president of Ukraine, thus, approving the violation of the Ukrainian constitution and legitimizing "color revolutions" once again.
As a result, Ukraine has drastically changed.
Take a look at the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in Sputnik's gallery:
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Participant in a rally in support of Ukraine's European integration on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Man with a chain at a rally of supporters of Ukraine's European integration on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Supporters of Ukraine's European integration take part in clashes with the police in the center of Kiev.

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An opposition activist takes a photo of a police cordon on Grushevsky Street in Kiev in neutral territory during a ceasefire.

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US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, right, and US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt enjoying the view after a meeting with Ukrainian opposition leaders on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Police officers in a cordon on Independence Square.

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Participants of a rally for Ukraine's European integration rest in in Kiev's city rada building.

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Participants of the rally in support of Ukraine's European integration on Saint Michael's Square in Kiev.

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Participant of protest rallies for Ukraine's European integration in Grushevskogo Street in Kiev, Ukraine

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From left: US Senators Chris Murphy, John McCain, and Ukraine's Svoboda party head Oleh Tyagnybok at the "Dignity Day" rally of supporters of Ukraine's European integration on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Hot food distributed to participants of pro-European integration rallies in a tent camp on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Opposition supporters on Grushevskogo Street in Kiev.

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Man at barricades on Khreshchatyk Street in Kiev.

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Fires and tents on Kiev's Independence Square, where clashes between the opposition and police began.

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Supporters of Ukraine's European integration clash with the Berkut special police unit on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Participants of a rally for Ukraine's European integration during a march along the Khreshchatyk Street in Kiev.

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Protester camp on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Supporters of Ukraine's European integration on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Law enforcement officers on Independence Square in Kiev, where protesters and police officers clashed.

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Supporters of Ukraine's European integration take part in clashes with police units in the center of Kiev.

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Protesters take part in the rally on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Opposition supporters with weapons on Independence Square in Kiev.

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Supporters of the radical opposition at the Instytutska Street barricade in Kiev.

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Woman stands at the barricades in the Khreshchatyk Street in Kiev.

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