In Battered Ukraine, Spirit Of Defiance Lives On In MaidanSquare

The Maidan -- or Independence Square -- lies at the heart of Ukraine's capital city, Kiev. The namehas become synonymous with the protests that ousted Ukraine's pro-Russian president last year.Courtesy Diana Derby hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy Diana Derby

The Maidan -- or Independence Square -- lies at the heart of Ukraine's capital city, Kiev. The namehas become synonymous with the protests that ousted Ukraine's pro-Russian president last year.

Courtesy Diana Derby

A year ago, clashes killed scores of anti-government protesters in Ukraine and the pro-Russianpresident, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country.

Over the weekend, thousands of people turned out in Kiev's central square, known as the Maidan, tomark the anniversary.

But even when Maidan isn't being used for giant demonstrations, the central square has become aneveryday gathering place for free speech of all kinds, including that which criticizes the currentgovernment.

People visit the Maidan at all hours. Some leave flowers and light candles at makeshift memorialsfor protesters who died last year.

Some come to lodge new protests and calls for help in a country that's beset by war and a ceasefirethat won't take hold.

Ukraine is on the tipping edge of financial collapse; on Monday the currency lost another 10 percentof its value.

On Sunday, thousands of people gathered in Maidan to mark the first anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that left scores of protesters dead. Geovien So/Barcroft Media/Landovhide caption

itoggle caption Geovien So/Barcroft Media/Landov

On Sunday, thousands of people gathered in Maidan to mark the first anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that left scores of protesters dead.

Geovien So/Barcroft Media/Landov

On a typical weekend day, several hundred peoplegather around the foot of the monument to Ukrainianindependence. It's a soaring column, topped with astatue of a Slavic goddess, her arms outspread.

Below, the square is lined with recruiting posters forthe Ukrainian army, and festooned with rows of blueand yellow Ukrainian flags strung together.

A long-haired folksinger in army fatigues warms up thecrowd with a traditional melody.

It might have been a festive atmosphere, except that many people have come to voice anxieties anddiscontents.

Diana Katyenko is here with her mother and godmother.

"We really [do] not agree with some actions that our president and our prime minister do," she says."So, we really ask them to change their politics because they are wrong with lots of actions,actually."

All three women say they were here a year ago, during the clashes when more than 100 people werekilled, many by snipers who have never been brought to justice. The dead included 17 policeofficers.

Crowds gather in Maidan at the foot of Kiev's monument to Ukrainian independence. Courtesy DianaDerby hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy Diana Derby

Katyenko and her companions think current Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has compromisedtoo much in his negotiations with Russia over the war in eastern Ukraine.

"If America hears us, please help us," Katyenko adds, "because our country is dying, and we don'twant it to be like this."

Katyenko says she means American military help "because we have nothing to protect ourselves."

"Our army has nothing except people, but people can't make war with their naked hands," she says.

Judging from the signs people carry, many of them want different things: jobs, protection for theirsavings. A few are even promoting their own new designs for Ukraine's flag.

But most of them join in when the national anthem is played.

Somehow all the different messages blend together for a few minutes -- the voices of people who arejust stopping by and those who look as if they can't bring themselves to leave.

The Ukrainian national anthem is a stately song that builds in power as it goes along. When it ends,a woman shouts "Maidan zili!" "Maidan lives!"

The people pick it up, and it becomes a chant: "Maidan lives! Maidan lives!"

That's one thing on which people here seem absolutely determined.

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