The assault of a prominent Ukranian journalist that had been highly critical of government officials has triggered a fresh round of protests in the country and across social media.
Tetyana Chornovol was accosted while driving by a group of men who beat her, according to the Kyiv Post. She was reportedly hospitalized for her injuries after being found lying bruised in a ditch. Chornovol has reported on government corruption and been a public speaker at various Ukranian protests, collectively known as EuroMaidan.
See also: 20 Incredible Images of Massive Protests in Ukraine
News of the beating flooded social media and triggered fresh protests, including many people holding up pictures of a heavily-bruised Chonovol (pictured above). The latest report from the Kyiv Post said that two men had been arrested in connection with the assault, although no information was available about the suspects' affiliation.
Activists and opposition politicians took to various forms of social media to bring attention to the bloody events. Vitali Klitschko, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion of the world, recently vacated his title to run for president of Ukraine. He posted on Twitter after news of Chornovol's assault:
The price of freedom of the press in Ukraine now thx to the system put in place by our current government. pic.twitter.com/zvasoXWE6E
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) December 25, 2013
The EuroMaidan twitter also reported the beating:
THIS is the regime of Yanukovych. Journalist Tatiana Chornovil, mother of two children, is brutally, savagely beaten. pic.twitter.com/nWtjCDJgTY
— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) December 25, 2013
A video surfaced on line purportedly from a dashcam in Chornovol's car that shows her being rammed off the road by a black SUV. Dashcams - small video cameras that record the driver's point of view - have become popular in parts of Europe and Asia.

The U.S. Embassy in Kiev issued a statement on the attack calling for Ukraine's government to take action:
"We condemn the attack and call for an immediate investigation, which unlike previous such incidents must result in those responsible being held fully accountable under the law. We express our concern at a strikingly similar series of events over the last few weeks, targeting individuals, property, and political activity, apparently aimed at intimidating or punishing those linked to the EuroMaidan protests.
These are unacceptable violations of civil liberties that have no place in a modern, democratic society. We call upon the Government of Ukraine to prevent any further incidents, open fair and transparent investigations into all the attacks that have already occurred, ensuring real results that bring to justice not only the perpetrators, but especially those who ordered such brutal attacks."
The assault comes just hours after another activist organizer was beaten and stabbed by unknown attackers. Ukraine's civil unrest has been marked by images of bloodied protestors and journalists emerging from conflicts with riot police.
Protests began in November after the Ukranian government decided not to sign a trade deal with the European Union. The unrest was met by a violent crackdown from police forces, which drew international condemnation. The Ukranian government recently signed a deal with Russia that has done little to quell protests.
Chornovol had become a popular voice of the opposition for her work in uncovering the wealth amassed by government officials.