The opposition intends to defend Maidan, or Independence Square, in Kyiv from special forces, Batkivschyna faction leader Arseniy Yatseniuk has said.

"We're planning to defend our Maidan," he told reporters at the press center of the national resistance headquarters on Monday.

"All the central metro stations are closed and Berkut special-purpose police are encircling Maidan," Yatseniuk said. He asked "the media to come to Maidan, as well."

A Twitter post said "Klitschko requested women and children to leave Maidan because of the arrival of special-purpose police units at Bessrabka."

A platoon of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry Forces started its march from Mykhailivska Square to Independence Square on Monday morning. Thirty fully equipped police officers carrying shields formed a column and is on the move, an Interfax correspondent reports.