Saskatchewan

Ex-Saskatoon resident Lana Kubin describes chaos in Kyiv

A Saskatchewan woman living in the Ukraine says she stands with the protesters and is not leaving, although she's convinced there will be more bloodshed in the days ahead.

Magazine editor supports protesters, says she's not leaving

Lana Nicole Kubin sent CBC News this photo taken the night of Feb. 18 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Submitted by Lana Nicole Kubin)

A Saskatchewan woman living in Ukraine says she stands with the protesters and is not leaving although she's convinced there will be more bloodshed in the days ahead.

At least 25 people were killed this week following clashes between protesters and government forces in the capital Kyiv.

Lana Nicole Kubin is from Saskatoon but has lived in Ukraine for 10 years and is currently a magazine editor in Kyiv.

Her office is close to Independence Square, which has been the centre of the protests.

What did happen is quite tragic ... It's anybody's guess as to how this escalates from here.- Lana Kubin

She described the chaos by phone Monday in an interview with Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger as more people began to gather in the square.

"There are Molotov cocktails that are being thrown in both directions," she said.

"There is a water cannon that has been spraying water at protesters since last night and continues to do so now. There's black smoke that continues to go up because the fires are looking to be started again."

Kubin said the fires are keeping police at bay. More and more people are coming to the square every minute and their message is they're not leaving, she said.

"What did happen is quite tragic," Kubin said, her voice drowned out from time to time by popping noises and shouts from the street. "It's anybody's guess as to how this escalates from here."

Despite the increasing violence, Kubin said she has no intention of leaving.

"I've been here for 10 years," she said. "This is as much my fight as the Ukrainians'."

An anti-government protester runs during clashes with riot police in Kyiv's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. (Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press)