At least two hundred and fifty people were injured on both sides, as protesters and police clashed.
Police began the violence on Wednesday, when they tried pushing into and dispersing the protest camp in Independence Square.
Late Wednesday night, President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders declared a truce, however there was no sign of that in the streets.
Fires continue to burn at the barricades with protesters throwing rocks and fire works, both sides throwing alcohol bombs; and the police using water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets.
In a sudden move, Colonel Genera Volodymyr Zamana, the head of Ukraine's military, was replaced and forced to retire.
No reason for the move was given, but shortly after the announcement Ukrainian troops were seen deploying around military bases, in a defense posture.
The head of NATO's military, US General Philip Breedlove, asked the new military leadership to help open a dialogue between the government and opposition.
On Thursday, the foreign minister's of France, Germany, and Poland are to meet with opposition leaders and discuss in what ways the EU can help the situation.
Both the US and the EU announced that they are considering sanctions against the Ukrainian government for their part in the violence.
The protests began in November, when the president backed away from a deal to join the EU, and instead turned to Russia.
Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.
They have demanded that he leave office, though during negotiations it looked like he might get to stay in place with extremely limited power.
A state of calm had taken place for a few days, but it fell suddenly away when parliament pushed back a vote to reign in the powers of the president, on Tuesday.
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