Kharkov, Donetsk, Lugansk: separatists seize administrative buildings. Grenades were put to use

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Strong-armed men cut Ukrainian flag and changed it to Russian tricolor in Kharkov, Donetsk; in Lugansk two people were injured during the seizure of the local department of Ukraine’s Security Service.

On April 6 protesters in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk have seized the building of the regional state administration. Earlier on Sunday, about 2,000 people had gathered in Donetsk’s central Lenin Square in voice their support to the officers of the Berkut riot police who had been detained by the Ukrainian security services on suspicion of manslaughter during the confrontation in Kiev. The current authorities, according to the protesters, were trying to “play a card of repression against dissidents,” ITAR-TASS quotes them saying. Participants in the rally chanted slogans holding Russian flags, St. George Ribbons and flags of pro-Russian public organizations in their hands.

Meanwhile the police blocked protesters, who seized the building of the regional state administration, inside the building.

The activists blocked inside the building took a decision to form a “people’s regional council.” “We must withstand at least 24 hours. An assembly or a congress is due to be held at 12:00 local time (13:00 Moscow time) on April 7. At least one representative from each town in the region will take part. We must involve other regions - Lugansk, Kherson,” activists said, adding that armed police squads were moving towards the building of the regional administration.

According to media reports, about 200 people took over the building. About 600-700 people more are outside, in front of the building. The protesters plan to set a tent camp.

In the meantime, on April 6, protesters seized the building of the local department of Ukraine’s Security Service. About 1,000 people took part in a picket in from of the building of Lugansk’s department of the Ukrainian Security Service urging to release the leader of the Lugansk Guards, Alexander Kharitonov. On March 14, Ukrainian security officers detained him after he had proclaimed himself as a “people’s governor” of the Lugansk region, on suspicion of attempting to topple the constitutional regime. Ukraine’s Security Service officers have yielded to the demands of the protesters as released six arrested activists in Lugansk. After these people were released, activists of the so-called “people’s self-defence” took them under their protection.

According to RFE/RL With a reference to UNIAN, a female protester and a law enforcement officer were hurt during the storming of the security service's headquarters in Lugansk.

Later on this day supporters of the idea of Ukraine’s federalization took over building of Kharkov regional administration. It took the protesters about ten minutes to shove back law enforcers, who were safeguarding the entrance to the building, and get inside.

About 2,000 people gathered in Kharkov’s central Freedom Square late on Sunday to “support Donetsk and Lugansk, where protesters seized administrative buildings earlier in the day,” carrying flags of Russia, the former Soviet Union and the Ukrainian Soviet Republic and chanting “Russia.”