Dynamo Kyiv’s Europa League match with Guingamp had to be halted 15 minutes from the end because of crowd trouble.

The home side were 2-0 up and heading into the last 16 3-2 on aggregate when a group of masked fans fought their way past stewards in a bid to attack supporters of the tiny French club.

The referee suspended the match and the away fans were forced to leave the stadium, before a number of Kyiv supporters began fighting among themselves.

The Kyiv goalkeeper, Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, went into the crowd to try to persuade them to halt the violence, but ended up trying to separate brawling fans and protect a steward who had been knocked to the floor.

Dynamo Kiev’s supporters fight among themselves after play was halted. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

The match was eventually restarted 15 minutes later and ended 3-1, Dynamo progressing 4-3 on aggregate.

The Guingamp president, Bernard Desplat, reportedly told RMC: “I saw a stadium at war with rabid dogs that wanted to fight. There were 11 heroes in Guingamp colours on the field because organising a match in these security conditions, when the safety of a certain group is not assured, is catastrophic for football.

“These are not fans, they are militiamen. Restarting play? How do you expect the players to focus on their game? It was extremely dangerous. This match could only have happened in Ukraine under these conditions.”