Investigators from Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation have formally charged three former high-ranking officials of the Berkut riot police in connection with the violent suppression of pro-EU protests in Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. The individuals, Rostyslav Patseliak and Vladyslav Lukash, who were commanders of the Berkut units in Lviv and Kharkiv, along with Mykola Starosilets, an assistant chief of their staff, are accused of organizing and executing lethal force against demonstrators who were crucial in advocating for Ukraine's turn towards the European Union.

The investigation indicates that these actions were part of a systematic effort by the Ukrainian leadership to quell dissent by categorizing protestors as threats and justifying their brutal response as part of an anti-terrorist operation. On February 18, 2014, a crucial escalation occurred when orders were given to disperse the protests forcefully, resulting in numerous casualties and solidifying international condemnation of the Ukrainian government's actions at the time.

This indictment marks a significant step in the ongoing pursuit of accountability for the tragic events that unfolded during the Maidan protests, which ultimately led to the ousting of President Yanukovych. The charges underscore the complexities of justice in cases involving state security forces, especially in a landscape still deeply affected by the aftermath of the revolution and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.