Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been rallying in Kiev against their President’s U-turn on Europe, amid increasingly chaotic scenes.

They defied a ban to gather.

But while most of the demonstration was peaceful, young radicals used a bulldozer to try to break into Viktor Yanukovich’s headquarters.

Their approach to the building was blocked by a line of buses, requisitioned by the Interior Ministry.

Police used tear gas to force back the crowd.

But they did not withdraw fully from the area and the situation remained tense with protesters confronting lines of helmeted Interior Ministry soldiers.

Opposition leaders said the clashes were stage-managed to give authorities a pretext to declare a state of emergency.

Nationalist protesters broke into Kiev’s City Hall and were occupying at least part of the building.

Amid the violence, a euronews crew was attacked by riot police. Our cameraman was wounded and his camera destroyed.