Medics and prosecutors say that two of the victims were shot. The other death, which is still being investigated by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, may have been the result of a fall.
The EuroMaidan demonstrations have been going on since last November, but recently took a more violent turn.
BBC reports that hundreds have been injured.
The street clashes, which began on Sunday, are in response to new legislation passed by the Ukrainian parliament last Thursday.
Critics say the new laws are symptomatic of government corruption, as they were passed hastily and impede free speech. The legislation forbids people from wearing masks or helmets to rallies and requires prior government authorization for installation of tents, stages, and sound equipment in public places.
Yesterday’s violence began near Independence Square, when police officers who stormed protesters’ barricades were met with stun grenades and rubber bullets, reports BBC.
A total of 36 journalists have been injured while reporting on the protests in the past few days.
Authorities have issued an order allowing riot police to use firearms to quell the protests reports CNN.
According to BBC’s David Stern, although it is not clear whether the dead protesters were killed by police gunfire, “the simple fact that there have been losses of life will undoubtedly drive the anti-government movement to new, and possibly explosive, levels of outrage.”Â
