Police clashed with protesters in Kiev on Sunday as thousands of Ukrainians swarmed the streets of the capital to mourn the death of a demonstrator killed during bloody scuffles with riot police last week.
As a coffin carrying the body of Mikhail Zhizvensky, 25, was hauled through the streets, legions of mourners chanted "Hero!" and sang the national anthem. The fallen protester was one of three who died Wednesday as the political crisis that has engulfed the Eastern European nation for two months erupted into bloodshed.
"He could have been my fiance, but he died defending my future so that I will live in a different Ukraine," said Nina Uvarov, a 25-year-old student from Kiev who wept as Zhiznevsky's body was carted out of St. Michael's Cathedral, according to the Associated Press.
The protest movement was sparked in Kiev after embattled President Viktor Yanukovych scuttled a landmark trade pact with the European Union in favor of securing a bailout loan from Russia. The civil uprisings exploded into violence a week ago after the government imposed stringent anti-protest laws.
Yanukovich on Saturday attempted to make a concession to protesters with an eye on easing the political crisis, offering key posts to opposition leaders.
But the opposition leaders quickly turned down the surprise offer in a sign that protesters are holding out for a more decisive and well-rounded political victory.
"No deal," Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, a key opposition figurehead, said in a tweet. "[W]e're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.