Faces of the Ukraine Conflict: Portraits of Kiev Protesters

Since November, Ukrainian protesters have braved the coldest months of the year and refused to leave an encampment in Kiev or to vacate occupied buildings.

The protests have drawn substantial crowds to the capital, sometimes numbering above 100,000 people, and an extensive protest tent camp has been set up on the capital's main square. The protests turned violent in mid-January when demonstrators clashed with police for four days, raining stones and firebombs on riot police and setting their vehicles afire.

The clashes subsided after three protesters died, at least two of them of gunshot wounds, but protesters have set up lines of high barricades at the clash site and the potential renewal of violence appears strong.

In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks at the face of protest in Ukraine.