Ukrainian protesters topple iconic Vladimir Lenin statue before DECAPITATING it

Thousands flooded the streets of Kiev as protests over the government's relationship with the Russians intensified

Symbol: The giant statue of Lenin had been there since 1946

Anti-government protesters in Ukraine toppled a historic statue of former Russian leader Vladimir Lenin before DECAPITATING it in the streets.

The hugely symbolic act comes as hundreds of thousands of people flood the streets of the capital Kiev.

People took it in turns to smash the torso of the statue before they hacked away at the plinth where it once stood.

The giant figure, made from red granite and standing at three-and-a-half metres high was erected in December 1946 just after the end of the second World War.

The now empty plinth was surrounded by jubilant masked protesters as they celebrated their act of defiance.

The angry residents have taken to the streets to denounce the government's decision to reject an EU agreement after receiving pressure from their Russian counterparts.

Getty Images Thousands Protest In Kiev As They Call On Government Leaders To Resign
Anger: people have taken to the streets of Kiev to show their dissent for the government

The government's opposition has distanced themselves from the actions insisting that organisers acted alone without any assistance from their party.

President Viktor Yanukovich's decision has sparked the worst street protests the country has seen in years, the last on such a scale being the 2004-05 Orange Revolution.