An influential aide to Vladimir Putin was behind the sniper killings of 100 activists during protests in Kiev a year ago, the Ukraine president has said.

Petro Poroshenko's claim comes as the capital remembers those who died over three days in demonstrations against the then leader, Moscow-leaning Viktor Yanukovych.

The protests topped Mr Yanukovych's government but culminated in war in the east of the country, which neighbours Russia.
Who fired the sniper shots in Independence Square remains unclear.

But Mr Poroshenko has said police evidence suggested the Russian president's aide Vladislav Surkov directed "foreign sniper groups".

The Ukrainian leader, speaking to loved ones of the victims, claimed a "clear Russian link" had been established to the shootings.

Mr Poroshenko told them: "Just a few days ago, the head of state security told me that, in questioning, special forces operatives gave evidence that Vladislav Surkov led the organisation of foreign snipers on the Maidan."

Russia's foreign ministry called the accusation "madness".

The deadliest day of the demonstrations was 20 February 2014 when more than 50 died.

The bells of the city's churches will ring, the national anthem will be sung, and flowers will be laid at the sites where the "Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred" lost their lives.

Meanwhile Vladimir Putin says no country should be under any illusion that they can achieve military superiority over Russia.

The president says he will always have an answer to any advances - as Kiev accuses Moscow of sending more tanks and troops into eastern Ukraine.

President Putin is quoted from an address he is expected to make on the Defenders' of the Fatherland Day holiday next week.