Protesters control administrative buildings in 8 cities in Ukraine’s Donetsk region

KIEV, April 16 (Itar-Tass) - Protesters continue to control administrative buildings in eight cities of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday. The flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s republic is waving on the Zhdanovka city council. Protesters stated that city authorities “are on their side.” A city council in Makeevka, Mariupol mayor’s office, a city council in Kramatorsk, an executive council in Khartsyzsk and a police station in Gorlovka, a city council and a police department in Yenakievo remain under their control. Police stations and the Ukrainian Security Service departments are occupied in the city of Slavyansk. Activists also placed seven checkpoints in the city. On Sunday, the interim Ukrainian President appointed by the country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and the parliament speaker, Alexander Turchinov, signed a decree to fulfil the decision taken by the Council of National Security and Defence to conduct a special operation details of which are not disclosed. Ukrainian army servicemen are put on full combat alert. Local media reported that Ukrainian authorities had introduced military hardware in the city of Kramatorsk. Learn more on itar-tass.com