Two activists have been attacked with pepper spray in Kiev during a transgender rights march that was interrupted by dozens of far-right protesters.

About 30 people were taking part in the demonstration in the Ukraine capital, holding rainbow flags and banners with slogans including “Transphobia must be stopped” and “If you stay silent, they will come after you too”.

The far-right protesters lit smoke bombs and threw them into the crowd, an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene said.

The two women attacked with pepper spray were given first aid at the scene, according to the correspondent.

Police led the activists into a subway station and blocked the entrance to protesters to avoid further clashes.

“Today’s events have demonstrated that the level far-right radical aggression and violence is increasing in Ukraine,” the organisers of the march wrote on Facebook.

The Canadian journalist Michael Colborne posted on Twitter that he had been punched in the face by a far-right radical while covering the rally.

Journalist @ColborneMichael took punch to face, sustained cut & had glasses broken by far-right radicals while covering today’s transgender rights rally as police not only stood by but physically removed activists from city-sanctioned event. cc @pressfreedom @RSF_EECA @OSCE_RFoM pic.twitter.com/UZyn7aKdee — Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) November 18, 2018

Homophobia is still commonplace in post-Soviet Ukraine, even if Kiev authorities have allowed gay pride marches to take place, in contrast to neighbouring Russia.

Transgender rights marches have taken place in previous years.

Police detained more than 50 far-right activists who tried to disrupt a gay pride march in Kiev this summer. Around 5,000 people took part in that event amid heightened security.