Pro-Russian militants seize the regional prosecutor’s office in Donetsk after violent clashses with police during May Day marches celebrating the Soviet era and Russian nationalism.
May Day celebrations in Donetsk turned violent as pro-Russian separatists clashed with police as they stormed the prosecutor’s office.
Police initially used tear gas to control the crowd but later handed over their weapons.
At one point police made a tortoise formation with their shields in a bid to protect themselves from attackers.
Protesters are reported to have shouted “fascists” as they forced their way into the building, forcing the police to leave.
Celebrations in the town began peacefully with hundreds of communists marching through the city singing Soviet era anthems.
Separatists are also reported to have seized the council of Amvrosievka, also in the Donetsk region.
In Moscow over 100,000 people took part in a march through Red Square outside the Kremlin for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Thousands of residents took to the streets of Russia’s second city St. Petersburg on marching to show support for democracy in Russia and Ukraine. Marchers waved flags in the Ukrainian colours of blue and gold, and held signs signalling their support for Ukraine.
Thousands of extreme nationalists also took to the streets across Russia today marching with white power banners and Russian flags.
President Vladimir Putin today told German Chancellor Angela Merkel the withdrawal of Ukrainian military units from the south-east, ending violence and launching a dialogue are key issues.
The Kremlin has also said that Merkel, in a call today asked Putin to help free European military observers being held by pro-Russian militia in Ukraine.
A spokeswoman for the German government said Merkel and Putin focused on the detention of the observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“The German chancellor reminded President Putin of Russia’s responsibility as an OSCE member state and called on the president to exert his influence,” Christiane Wirtz said.
“They also spoke about the significance of elections in Ukraine on May 25, which are crucial for the stability of the country.”