( CNN ) -- A protester in military fatigues and an old steel army helmet barks out orders to a line of Ukrainian police officers -- yes , police officers . `` Forward , march ! '' shouts the protester . And the officers move , to the delight of cheering protesters . `` Good work ! Good work ! '' the crowd screams as the officers move toward Kiev 's Independence Square . The officers -- about 30 in number -- are defectors mostly from the town of Lviv in western Ukraine , where most look toward Europe in a divided nation that has long split allegiance between Europe and Russia . Their commander , Vassily Krikowsky , decided to lead them to Kiev after seeing the images of bloodied protesters , some killed -- opposition officials say -- at the hands of security forces . `` We want to make a statement that we can not tolerate this any longer , '' he said . `` We are from western Ukraine , and we want to show everyone that the police is with the people . '' The question of whether some police officers were defecting amid the violence took center stage on Thursday , when the government said protesters had taken several dozen police officers hostage . However , other officers appeared on Ukrainian television saying they had defected after receiving orders to use force on protesters . It 's unclear what might happen to the men . An agreement signed Friday by government and opposition leaders requires protesters and security forces alike to withdraw from the streets and turn in illegal weapons . It appears to protect protesters from prosecution for illegal weapons possession during the protest . But it does n't address the case of police officers who walked away from their jobs to join and help defend protesters against their comrades . Although things are peaceful today , the men are well aware that they might have to confront their colleagues on the other side of the barricades if the situation escalates again . `` Some police officers have committed crimes , '' Krikowsky said . `` By shooting at unarmed people and medical volunteers . Those are crimes . ''
Police commander leads his officers from western Ukraine to Kiev . `` We can not tolerate this any longer , '' the commander says of scenes of violence . `` Some police officers have committed crimes , '' Vassily Krikowsky says .