In Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 20, 2014, escalating violence during the Euromaidan protests culminated in a tragic surge of fatalities among demonstrators. As thousands gathered in Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the central square of the capital, tensions soared due to the violent crackdown by government forces. The protesters were advocating for reform and closer ties with the European Union after President Viktor Yanukovych's government decided to suspend an association agreement that had significant economic implications. Amid ongoing confrontations, reports emerged that snipers had taken to the rooftops, targeting unarmed protesters with lethal force.

During this harrowing day, estimates indicated that more than 70 individuals lost their lives, with hundreds more injured. The violence was not only shocking due to the sheer scale of casualties but especially harrowing due to the nature of the attacks, which seemed calculated and directed against civilians. Eyewitness accounts detailed the terror as chilling cries filled the air, marking a descent into chaos. The world watched in horror as footage and images circulated online, prompting calls for intervention and condemning the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters.

International reaction was swift, with various governments and organizations expressing outrage over the violence. The death toll and the government's response added fuel to the protests, leading to increased calls for Yanukovych's resignation. In the aftermath, the situation in Ukraine became increasingly complex, with subsequent political developments leading to Yanukovych fleeing the capital and ultimately igniting a series of crises that affected the entire region, including Russia's annexation of Crimea.