Pro-Russia Activists Reinforce Barricades at Donetsk Government Building

The Ukraine government gave Pro-Russia protesters in the east of the country a 48-hour window beginning on April 9 to leave occupied government buildings before force is used. Ukraine’s government warned of a crackdown against what it has described as ‘separatists’ in the largely Russian-speaking east, where activists have occupied government building in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk in recent days.

Pro-Russian activists rallied in the eastern city of Donetsk on April 9 and continued to occupy the city’s regional state administration building. The protesters say they want independence from Ukraine’s pro-Western authorities, and have declared a sovereign “people’s republic” in Donetsk. Barricades can be seen erected at the building in this footage. Credit: Graham Phillips