Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych returned to work yesterday after four days of illness, as the country's parliament prepared to vote on an amnesty for jailed opposition activists.
But opposition leaders have continued to call for Yanukovych’s resignation and there are fears more violence is imminent if their demands are not met.
Australian-Ukrainian photographer Demjin Doroschenko – who spent weeks on the front line of Kiev's protests before returning to Australia last week - told SBS a bloody showdown is looming.
"My feeling from what I've seen there is that if there's any violence from the Berkut [riot police], it will be retaliated against very strongly by the protesters," he said.
Kiev protests: On the front line
"They have the ability to fight back now."
He said protesters had not been moved by the president's recent concessions.
"People are well aware of these sort of political games and grandstanding, and they are not falling for it," he said.
"They will not accept anything less than a complete overhaul of the government and a resignation, because they know if the protest fails, they will end up in jail for the next 15 years and be rounded up all over Ukraine."
The radical right wing opposition group that controls the barricades confirmed police will face more force if unrest resumes.
But police are also holding their positions.
READ MORE: Timeline of the Ukrainian political crisis
Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said there was strong support for the opposition movement.
"We received a show of solidarity from other cities before when they protested in various government buildings. I propose they repeat and enforce this wave," he said.
Bishop Peter Stasiuk said the violence was of great concern to the Ukrainian community in Australia.
"A number of people have terribly suffered, a number of people have lost their lives," he said.
"And we certainly would ask all Australians to remember that God does intervene. We believe that justice will prevail and we do thank everybody for their support."
