Returning from a very surreal afternoon inside Yanukovych's residential compound. A real palace. Thousands of locals there, goggle-eyed
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 22, 2014
Viktor Yanukovych appears to be digging in his heels today, refusing to resign as Ukraine’s president.
Yanukovych says he is victim of a 'coup d'etat', won't resign and will stay in Ukraine.
— David Blair (@davidblairdt) February 22, 2014
Yanukovych: "I'm won't sign anything with bandits who are terrorising Ukraine". Guess he's been on the phone to Moscow since yesterday
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 22, 2014
Yanukovych to @UBR_ua:
– won't resign
– this is a nazi coup
– complain about repressions against his MPs/cronies pic.twitter.com/4DUpQaWD7M— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 22, 2014
Meanwhile, thousands reportedly swarmed his compound after he fled Kiev. Photos of his luxury villa, private zoo, boat and more are circulating on Twitter.
Maidan radicals at yanukovich estate cant believe they're there. None of us can believe how ugly it is. pic.twitter.com/fOEXZJiF77
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) February 22, 2014
People of #Kyiv swarm over President’s estate, learn he has a boat there. A big one. http://t.co/1DSJHprqrJ pic.twitter.com/sFLNeVlnIz
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 22, 2014
Yanukovich estate is so big, I walked around for two hours and didn't see this! pic.twitter.com/h74tZzN3q7
— Olaf Koens (@obk) February 22, 2014
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Apparently, Yanukovych has some swagger
MT @myroslavapetsa: #Yanukovych's garage likely to blow your mind pic.twitter.com/OrcHDm93Bj— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 22, 2014
Rare books found in Yanukovych's Mezhyhiriya estate. via @MichaelShchur pic.twitter.com/srW0xbgQFi
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 22, 2014
The President's greenhouse. This one is only for flowers and banana trees pic.twitter.com/XgYnBmcSMt
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
The private zoo. Peacocks of course pic.twitter.com/pLNQ91w6rF
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
The covered part of the private zoo. Antelopes etc pic.twitter.com/nnfKdGGVZC
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Every President needs one of these pic.twitter.com/IpDyROISD8
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Presidential pigs in their element pic.twitter.com/vwxGSZx883
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Bemused sheep. They're just not used to seeing so many people pic.twitter.com/SKDvCLSi76
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
The villa. Swiss Chalet Brutalism pic.twitter.com/q7fgSt5dCK
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
A day at the Zoo, the President's private zoo in In open house courtesy of the revolution pic.twitter.com/CTsixqIXzJ
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Deer too look for Yanukovich at his private zoo. #whereisyanu #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/trNt6QifKN
— federico escher (@fedescher) February 22, 2014
Ostriches looking for Yanukovich at his personal zoo. #whereisyanu #WhereIsSerbiaOnWWATourList pic.twitter.com/SD94Uz6TVz
— federico escher (@fedescher) February 22, 2014
More unhappy pigs left behind by Yanukovich. #euromaidan #whereisyanu pic.twitter.com/QobF3gBA3P
— federico escher (@fedescher) February 22, 2014
Extraordinary day: #Kyiv protesters pose for group photo at estate of President Yanukovych. pic.twitter.com/8HcSJGZubt via @obk
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 22, 2014
"We won:" People of #Kyiv get their first look (and souvenir photos) of President Yanukovych's estate. pic.twitter.com/Om5P3ve82r v. @fedescher
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 22, 2014
Extraordinary day: #Kyiv protesters pose for group photo at estate of President Yanukovych. pic.twitter.com/8HcSJGZubt via @obk
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 22, 2014
Plump pigs & a private zoo: @mattfrei blogs from Kiev, on a very revolutionary day out http://t.co/2whLfLLajB #C4news pic.twitter.com/5GU1fIv48G
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) February 22, 2014
More from journalist Matt Frei:
Word spread that the private presidential compound on the outskirts of Kiev was now open to visitors, courtesy of the revolution. We headed down there and came across what looked remarkably like a swelling Saturday family outing. And yes, they were going to the zoo but it happened to be the president’s private zoo that had, until today, been kept a very well-guarded secret, together with all the other opulence of Villa Yanukovych. I have never seen anything like it.
[Update]
The parliament has voted to remove Yanukovych from power.
Just now: Ukraine parliament votes to impeach Yanukovych. 328 votes for. MPs now singing national anthem in Verkhovna Rada.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 22, 2014
Yanus own people in parliament voted for his impeachment. The President is a very lonely man in his own country. Supported only by Russia
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) February 22, 2014
Related:
Boats, zoo, and soggy documents found at Yanukovych’s abandoned luxury estate [pics]
Police abandon posts around Kiev; Protesters now in full control? [photos]
‘They are fallin’: Monuments to Vladimir Lenin do forced faceplants in Ukraine
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