Topless woman protester allegedly damages UEFA trophy in Kyiv

09:19

A young topless woman from FEMEN, a Ukrainian feminist group known for its topless protests, on Saturday threw on the ground a famous UEFA trophy put on show in the center of Kyiv and was arrested after that, Ukraine's Channel 5 television said.

The Henri Delaunay Trophy will be awarded to the winner of this year's UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2012), whose finals are to be hosted by Ukraine and start on June 8. Brought to Ukraine on Friday, the trophy is on display on Independence Square and will be shown in several other Ukrainian cities afterward.

FEMEN said in a statement: "On her 23rd birthday, FEMEN activist Yulia Kovpachyk attacked the Euro pot during its demonstration on Independence Square. Deceiving the numerous security guards, the activist managed to bare her torso with the inscription 'Fuck Euro 2012' and throw the trophy to the ground."

"The activist was arrested, the Euro saucepan was damaged, and the display ground was closed," the group said.

Channel 5 said, however, that the incident had had a quick ending, that Kovpachyk was in the hands of the police, and that the trophy remained on show, with people being able to have their pictures taken next to it.