KYIV. July 4 (Interfax) - Clashes erupted between protestors and police outside the Ukrainian House in Kyiv at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, as a result of which 10 combatants from the Berkut special force unit were injured, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Kyiv said on Wednesday.
"Some of the protestors used physical force against law enforcers and sprayed an unidentified chemical agent. As a result of which 10 officers from the Berkut special force unit sustained various bodily injuries," the statement said.
The victims were taken to the Main Directorate's hospital.
Early reports suggest that the officers sustained various types of injuries.
Meanwhile, the opposition said that around 5,000 Berkut combatants have gathered outside the Ukrainian House since Wednesday morning.
"We are peaceful. We do not know why they have sent 5,000 combatants here. Who are they defending themselves against? Against young people, students and deputies?" Front of Change leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk was quoted by his party as saying.
"We are not as strong as these Berkut guys but we are strong in spirit," he added.
It was reported that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is due to give a press conference at the Ukrainian House at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. Moscow time) on Wednesday.
A day earlier Verkhovna Rada passed a bill on the language policy principles significantly broadening the use of Russian in Ukraine. A number of people's deputies announced a hunger strike outside the Ukrainian House on Tuesday night. According to the Fatherland party, several thousand Ukrainians rallied in support of the Ukrainian language.