Topless members of the Femen radical feminist group have seized the football trophy of the Euro 2012 on display in Ukraine to protest against the increase of sex tourism in the former Soviet republic.

Inna Schevchenko, 21, stripped from the waist up revealing the words "F**k Euro 2012" and clutched the cup while it was exhibited in a central square in Dnipropetrovsk.

A 46-year-old French journalist peeled off her top to display the same slogan. "She also supports our struggle against sexism and prostitution and decided to take part," said Femen spokeswoman Anna Hutsol.

Both were detained by police under charges of causing public disorder and released later. A Polish reporter was also arrested by police, who confiscated her video and audio equipment

Kiev-based Femen's protests have focused on next month's Euro 2012 football tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

The activists claim the tournament will lead to a rise in prostitution in the former Soviet republic.

Another Femen activist staged a similar protest in Kiev, earlier this month.

In April, members of Femen staged a naked protest to defend Ukrainian women's rights to abortion. The activists climbed to the top of the Cathedral of St Sophia in the centre of Kiev and stripped from the waist up to protest against a bill that would ban abortions in the former communist country.