KIEV: One policeman was killed and dozens injured on Monday in street battles with protesters in Kiev as Ukrainian lawmakers gave their initial backing to controversial legislation granting more autonomy to pro-Kremlin rebel regions. It was the worst unrest in the capital since a bloody popular uprising ousted Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovych early last year, an event that set in train the separatist insurgency in Ukraine’s industrial east. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk blamed ultra-nationalists for the violence but they denied involvement. “At a time when Russia and its bandits are seeking to destroy the country but are unable to do this on the front line, the so-called pro-Ukrainian political forces are trying to open a second front inside the country,” he said in an address to the nation. The violence involving hundreds of demonstrators flared up shortly after MPs backed the first reading of constitutional reforms that critics have branded “un-Ukrainian” for giving the Moscow-backed insurgents greater powers in the east. Riot police armed with batons were seen clashing with the protesters. A loud blast was heard outside parliament and clouds of black smoke billowed into the air as demonstrators threw what security forces said were live grenades. Some of the injured were seen bleeding on the ground in front of the parliament building, with many suffering injuries to their arms and legs. Most of those hurt were in uniform. The authorities said a member of the National Guard, believed to be a 24-year-old conscript, died of his injuries. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov initially said he died from a bullet wound to the heart but later corrected this, saying he was killed by shrapnel from a grenade. Avakov said a deputy interior minister was also hurt. Police said around 100 members of the security forces were injured, with spokeswoman Oksana Blyshchyk saying separately that 10 of them were in a critical condition. The city authorities said two journalists were also hurt. The interior ministry blamed the nationalist Svoboda party for the unrest, saying those detained included a member of its paramilitary unit accused of throwing the grenade. “More than 30 people have already been detained. More to come,” Avakov said, adding that people who threw “several” explosive devices were wearing T-shirts with the Svoboda logo. Svoboda rejected the accusations, instead blaming the violence on the authorities who it said were the first to use force against the protesters. The party led by fiery nationalist Oleg Tiagnybok called the explosions a provocation designed to cast suspicion on “Ukrainian patriots”.
