What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Ukraine has appointed a new interim president less than 24 hours after controversial leader Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by his own parliament.

Yanukovych fled his luxury estate on Friday night amid growing unrest in the country and is reported to have been stopped from leaving the country by state border guards.

A security video screened on Ukranian television appears to show goods being removed from the presidential compound before a man - believed to be Yanukoych - is whisked away via helicopter.

(Image: Getty)

Parliament has quickly voted to nationalise the lavish estate, which is currently occupied by protesters and journalists searching a paper trial of suspected corruption.

Meanwhile, Oleksander Turchinov has been installed as acting president until fresh elections are held.

Mr Turchinov, former speaker of the assembly, has now told MPs they have until Tuesday to form a new cross-party government.

Mr Yanukovych refused to resign after he dismissed the move as a “coup”, but he fled Kiev and left the opposition effectively in control of the capital.

The vote came after anti-government protesters stormed the president’s unguarded official buildings after days of bloody clashes with security forces.

One triumphant rebel declared: “The people are now in control.”

(Image: REUTERS)

MPs also voted to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed for abuse of office in 2011.

Last night she addressed supporters in ­Kiev’s Independence Square – the scene of the worst of the fighting.

To cheers, she announced: “This country is free, this is your victory.”

Yesterday’s dramatic events followed a week of bloodshed with 100 killed in battles between riot police and demonstrators.

Protests started in November, when the pro-Russia president rejected an EU trade deal.