The far-right Right Sector organization has called for an urgent meeting of its members in Mariyinskyy Park in the center of Kyiv. “Close to the Verkhovna Rada patriots’ blood was spilt. Inform all the allies you know!” reads their message on Facebook.
Among those clashing with law-enforcement officers next to the parliament today were the heads of the radical Svoboda political party. In photos shared by journalist Petr Shuklinov, party leader Oleh Tyahnybok, in a black traditional embroidered shirt, can be seen yelling at the police. The other photo shows Yuriy Syrotyuk, the party’s former spokesman, attacking police with a baton.
The Svoboda party had been campaigning against the constitutional reforms proposed by the president.
In the meantime...
Ukrainian Deputy Anton Herashchenko, in an interview with Ukrainian Channel 5 TV channel, said that no one has died as a result of the explosion next to the parliament. However, four people are in a critical condition.
The latest on the clashes from our news desk:
Ukraine's National Guard says four of its servicemen suffered "life threatening injuries" from what one lawmaker described as a grenade blast during clashes between police and protesters outside the parliament on August 31.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry said more than 90 security officers were injured during the clashes, including one officer who lost both of his feet as a result of the blast.
Kyiv's Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said "some" members of the National Guard were killed, but he did not specify how many -- and there was no immediate confirmation of his statement from law enforcement authorities.
A BBC correspondent described hearing three stun grenades followed by a louder explosion.
Video footage showed more than a dozen Ukrainian riot troops limping after the explosion, and at least one plainclothes officer falling to the ground and being dragged away.
Other footage showed bloodstains on the pavement while servicemen dragging away at least two other wounded security officers.
Kyiv police said a man suspected of throwing a hand grenade was been arrested, and about 30 other protesters were arrested during the clashes.
Earlier reports said security forces used batons and pepper spray against the demonstrators.
Smoke bombs also were used, but it was not immediately clear whether those devices were thrown by police or by protesters.
The demonstrators were protesting a presidential bill aimed at extending the level of autonomy for pro-Russian separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine.
The parliament approved the first reading of the constitutional amendment, which states that a separate law will determine the extent of local self-governance in parts of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Of the 368 lawmakers at the August 31 session, 265 supported the bill.
The bill was submitted by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in accordance with February's Minsk cease-fire agreement.
At least 300 votes will be needed to pass the constitutional amendment at the next session of parliament.
Ukrainian Deputy Boryslav Bereza shared a photo of the Rada’s third-floor bulletproof window, which has been pierced through. “We're not only hearing explosions today,” Bereza writes on Facebook.
Besides the person who allegedly threw a grenade at law-enforcement officers, 29 more people have been detained, writes Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
“The one who threw the grenade was detained. [Officials] seized grenades from him, including a maximum destruction F1 grenade,” he wrote.
All in all, around 90 people were injured, says Avakov.