Behind the shield - Jacob Balzani Lööv Photography | Currently in Italy

Olesja, 19, student of journalism. The danger of government reprisal prompted most of the protesters to hide their identity. She is Maidan since November only going home to rest or, sometimes, to study.
A member of the 14th self-defence units, prepares a stencil with the word "freedom" for the shields. By February Maidan became a de facto independent state and it appeared like a military camp protected by more than 40 self-defence units.
Olesja, 19, trains fighting with a friend. Protesters had to learn to defend themselves to withstand the increasing violence of the police.
Igor "the American", 49, trains to be more fit in case of confrontation with the police. After living in the US for 20 years he tried to open a business in Kiev but he lost everything becasue of corruption. Optimistic about his american passport, he was the only one not hiding his identity on the square.
A protester teaches how to punch correctly to Khrystyna, 24, a recent graduate of Arts.
Dasha (left) and Ira (right), both 18 and student of journalism, prepare for action. “I was just gathering under the stage and hoping for a better world, then I realized this wasn’t enough”, Dasha says. “I understood I am the only responsible for my own future. I grew into a real soldier."
The 14th group of self-defence marching after a demonstration in front of the Prosecutor General, demanding the release of arrested protesters and the cleaning of their criminal records.
Differently from other units, the 14th role was to be a reserve quickly ready to help in case of necessity. Most of the time people were resting, training or simply waiting.
Olesja, 19, in a quiet moment.
Ira, 18, medical student in Lviv, helps with a massage.
Olesja, 19, dances during a party organized by the Young Nationlist Congress. The organization advocates a free and independent Ukrainian state and largely contributed to the formation of the 14th self-defence unit.
Khrystyna, 24,watch herself while trying a gas mask.
Igor "the American", 49, getting a different haircut in preparation for the march on the Parliament.
Members of 14th, sharpen the night before marching on the Parliament.
Olesya,19, and Khrystyna, 24, chat before sleeping.
18th of February, early morning bell. 20,000 protesters will March on Ukraine’s parliament in support of rolling back the Constitution of Ukraine to its pre-2004 form.
Martin, 21, electro engineer from Lviv gets prepared for the march.
Yarik, 29, teacher of mathematics and physic in high school, fixes the helmet of Olia, 19, a student.
Misha, 19, student, adjusting his look before the action.
The 14th Unit deployed amid tear gas during the clashes in Mariinsky Park near the Parliament.
An injured member of the 14th is carried away from clashes in Institutska Street. Police managed to force protesters to retreat across the city.
Dasha 18, and Misha, 19, meet after the harsh confrontation with the police. "I never touch the problem of death in my life," she remembers of that day. "I am only 18 years old, I was really scared, I was full of adrenaline and I was not thinking anymore about my own life but to win and protect my other people."
A man from the 14th after the confrontation with the police. A large part of them was inured and at least 26 people died on that day among protesters and policeman. Police started to storm Maidan and many thought the protest was definitely over.
Igor, 49, after the confrontation with the police. He was inured by a steel or rubber bullet during the clashes. On that day only few members of the 14th managed to return to Maidan.
Misha, 19, lies exhausted in his corner.
Olesja, 19, helps an inured member of the 14th.
Olia, 19 (center) just before leaving the base of the 14th. Since most of the 14th didn't show up in the base after the clashes, they decided to abandon it.
Olesja, 19, on the 20th of February after the 14th has been regrouped. On the same day day tens of protester were killed. Their chief ordered them not to leave the building because there was not much they could without weapons against snipers .
Ira, 18, rests after president Yanukovych flee Ukraine.
After Yanukovych flee Ukraine, part of the 14th returned to its normal life, part secured his mansion in Mezhyhirya and many enrolled in the National Guard to defend the integrity of the territory of Ukraine.

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Behind the shield.

Kyiv, February 2014.

By February Maidan became a de facto independent state and it appeared more like a military camp than the home of non-violent protests it has been during the beginning. Protesters had to learn to defend themselves to withstand the increasing violence of the police. They protected their identity with balaclavas and they started to wear armors and shields. Everybody could bring its help to Maidan and if they wanted to be part of security they were assigned to a self-defence unit (Samoobrona Maidanu). There will be more than 40 different units composed by roughly hundred persons each. Dasha, 18, a student of social journalism, was assigned to the 14th: “I was just gathering under the stage and hoping for a better world, then I realized this wasn’t enough”, she says. “I understood I am the only responsible for my own future. I grew into a real soldier. I would have given my life for the 14th, and they would have done the same for me.”

Different people compose the 14th, many are young and several are part of the Young Nationalist Congress, a youth organization for free and independent Ukraine, which was on the square since the beginning, when they came hand over to President Yanukovych signatures for a referendum to enter in Europe. Volodimir, 49, an engineer, decided to come from Lviv especially because of the large presence of young people: “I felt somebody older should stay beside them”. Many of the older people had military experience acquired during their compulsory military in Soviet time. They were sent to places like Angola or Syria and now feel the responsibility to teach what they know to the younger ones. Igor, 48, was one of the few not hiding his face : “Why should I? I still have my American passport.” He used to live for a long time in the US but when he decided to come back and open a small construction business in his own country he lost everything because of corruption.

Following the arrest of many protesters between January and February, the 14th Sotnia was involved, mainly in picketing actions outside police stations. Nobody expected the revolution would have been so long and so hard. When on the 18th of February they marched toward the Parliament, they were badly defeated and many of them were hospitalized. On the 20th when protesters were being shot, they were still recovering from the previous days and they were ordered to remain in their building. There was nothing they could have done without weapons against snipers.

“These last days were really terrifying, it was as if everything happened over only half a day. Everything overlaps,” recalls Olesja, 19. “If I would have been killed in this revolution I don’t think it would have been for nothing. It was much more than overthrowing Yanukovych: We realized how Ukrainians are good, generous and helpful to each other. I think people are ready now, they learn they can change things by themselves, and they would come again and again in the square to protest if needed.”