The weapons that brought down a government… and sparked a new Cold War: Deadly improvised weaponry used by Ukrainian protesters who ousted their president

Deadly weapons, used by anti-government protestors, captured by photographer Tom Jamieson on streets of Kiev

They include climbers' ice axes, spiked clubs, makeshift pitchforks and heavy metal bars chained to wooden sticks

Last month, 20,000 demonstrators stormed capital in bid to overthrow president Victor Yanukovych's government




From spiked clubs to makeshift pitchforks, these are the improvised weapons that brought down the Ukrainian government.



The deadly weapons, used by anti-government protestors, were captured by photographer Tom Jamieson on the streets of the capital, Kiev.



They include climbers' ice axes, metre-long hammers, stun grenades and wooden sticks with heavy metal bars chained to the end.

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Deadly: This improvised weapon, featuring a long wooden stick with another piece of wood chained to the end, helped to bring down the Ukrainian government last month

Chilling: The lethal items, used by anti-government protestors, were captured by photographer Tom Jamieson on the streets of the capital, Kiev. Above, a spiked club

Ready to attack: They include climbers' ice axes, metre-long hammers, baseball bats, stun grenades, personalised body armour and makeshift pitchforks (pictured)

Lethal: A demonstrator holds a hammer (left) (right) in front of a black backdrop in the capital's Independence Square, while another poses with a baseball bat (right)



The chilling weaponry was pictured being held by protestors in the capital's Independence Square, known as the Maidan, in front of a black backdrop.



In February, more than 20,000 anti-government stormed the streets of Kiev in bid to overthrow a government led by president Victor Yanukovych following months of sit-ins and demonstrations.

They hurled fire bombs, large rocks and other makeshift devices at police officers in riot gear, who returned their fire with rubber bullets and later, live ammunition.



They eventually managed to take control of the capital and oust Yanukovych - sparking the ongoing Crimean crisis, dubbed the second Cold War, between Russia and Ukraine.



Another spiked club: Last month, more than 20,000 anti-government stormed the streets of Kiev in bid to overthrow a government led by president Victor Yanukovych

Taking aim: They hurled fire bombs, large rocks and other makeshift devices at police officers in riot gear. Above, an anti-government protestor holds a metal slingshot

Personalised stick: They eventually managed to take control of the capital and overthrow Yanukovych - sparking the ongoing Crimean crisis between Russia and Ukraine

Dedicated: Mr Jamieson (right) visited protestors' frontlines, tents and occupied buildings in a bid to capture the improvised weapons, including these metal bolts (left)



Mr Jamieson, who visited frontlines, tents and occupied buildings during the protests in a bid to photograph the weapons, said: 'For five months, Maidan Square and its adjacent streets of Grushevskogo and Khreschatyk became home to protestors, revolutionaries and soldiers from all over Ukraine in a bid to overthrow the corrupt government.

'The occupation was largely DIY in nature, from barricades made from tyres and sand bags filled with snow, to the motley assortment of foreign and soviet era body armour worn by those opposing the government.



'Most striking and inventive of all are the weapons of the protestors, which are fashioned from wood, steel or plastic. Each is completely unique to its owner and often personalised with inscriptions or revolutionary imagery.

Bizarre contraption: The photographer said the protestors' demonstrations were largely 'DIY in nature'. Above, a makeshift weapon with two metal poles and a furry top

Dangerous: 'Most striking and inventive of all are the weapons of the protestors, which are fashioned from wood, steel or plastic,' he said. Above, a heavy metal bar

Unique: 'Each is unique to its owner and often personalised with inscriptions or revolutionary imagery,' he added. Above, a stick inscribed with the word 'peacemaker'

'This series catalogues the homemade weapons of the revolutionaries which stand in stark comparison to the modern, automatic weapons recently employed against them by government forces.'

The photographer said he started the project during the final few days of a two-week trip to Kiev in a bid to show something 'new and different'.



'I spent two weeks photographing the protests getting constantly more frustrated that I wasn't contributing anything new to the coverage,' he said.



Stark contrast: The images catalogue the homemade weapons of the revolutionaries which stand in stark contrast to the automatic weapons of government forces Terrifying: A demonstrator holds a wooden stick with a heavy metal bar chained to the end, which was likely used against riot police during the clashes last month Hazardous: Mr Jamieson said he started the project during the final few days of a two-week trip to Kiev in a bid to show something 'different'. Above, a shotgun shell Armed and ready: Two unnamed protestors stand on the streets of Kiev (left) amid the violent clashes, while another demonstrator holds a deadly-looking hammer (right)



'It was actually only during my last few days in Kiev that I came up with the idea to focus purely on the weapons and remove them from the chaotic background of what was taking place on Maidan Square.

'I think they reveal a lot about the personalities of the protestors. Many of the weapons hold inscriptions and slogans. They were a point of pride for the protestors and each was completely unique to its owner.

'I also think that despite looking brutal and menacing they show the total futility of such weapons against automatic weapons.'

Protection: Mr Jamieson said he thought the weapons revealed a lot about the protestors' personalities. Above, a personalised helmet, featuring a woman with a halo

Shield: The weapons were a point of pride for the protestors and each was completely unique to its owner,' he said. Above, a man shields himself with a metal pole

Ready to launch: He added that the process of taking the photos was 'very simple'. Above, a protestor holds a jagged rock, which would likely later be thrown at riot police

He added that the process he undertook was 'very simple', saying: 'I walked around to different parts of the protest, the front lines, the tents, the occupied buildings and asked to see everyone's weapons.

