Anti-government protesters in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev have toppled and decapitated the statue of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets Sunday night to denounce the government’s move away from Europe and toward Russia, The Associated Press reported.

“Glory to Ukraine!” some demonstrators shouted while others took turns beating the statue of the Russian communist revolutionary.

The 11-foot statue was erected in 1946 just after the end of World War II, NPR reported.

Opposition groups in the country are calling for a million people to rally against government plans to forge stronger ties with Russia.

“Thousands of protesters have been camping out here in Kiev’s central square, but organizers are calling on people from around the country to join them,” NPR’s Corey Flintoff said. “The protest started as a response to President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to reject a trade and political deal with the European Union.”

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