As a shaft of sunlight fell across a desk strewn with piles of paper and files and staplers, Marina Votyakova whispered: “Why couldn’t he have been here? He would have been safe here. Look, there is no damage, the fire didn’t reach here, not a mark.” She looked down at the parquet floor, ran her finger gently along the lemon yellow wall and repeated: “I don’t understand, why didn’t he run here?” Her voice faded away as she wiped her tears with a rolled-up tissue clutched tightly in her hand.

The room she described was on the third floor of the trade union building in Odessa, one among a handful in a wing which had been left virtually untouched while others had been gutted by the raging fire, turned into charred shells, the furniture incinerated. The dead are still being counted from Odessa’s terrible fire: it was 31 at first, then went up to 48, while the number of injured has risen to 200. Some were burnt alive, some were asphyxiated, some jumped to their deaths.

The inability of the authorities to say just how many perished, four days on, has prompted dark tales of bodies in the basement spirited away and buried by the authorities. They show, it is claimed, signs of torture; women victims have been raped. There is no evidence to support these claims, but they fester in this atmosphere of malignant hatred and suspicion which is so bitterly dividing Ukraine. The toll in Odessa was the single largest in one day since the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. Most of those who died were pro-Russian demonstrators, some of whom had been meting out their own violence on Ukrainian nationalists before being chased and trapped by a baying mob flinging missiles; both sides are said to have used Molotov cocktails, although most of them appeared to be incoming.

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The public began to arrive in large numbers on Monday. Marina, a 60-year-old grandmother, came with an arm full of tulips through the blackened entrance into a shrine of flowers and candles and religious icons. She did not know where her son, Sasha, had spent his final moments. She stopped at the door to look at a list of names and photographs, then flinched and looked away.

“I do not think they should have those up there, what effect will it have on relations? I hope Sasha did not suffer like those poor people; but of course, I have to accept he may have done. But who could do such things? What is happening to us, here of all places, a place where we used to get on? ” she wondered.

Her dead son, a 25-year-old mechanic, was the product of such a mixed heritage. Marina’s estranged husband is of Moldovan and Russian parentage; Sasha bears his father’s surname; she requested that it not be printed because two other sons are also activists and may, she feared, become targets for their enemies.



Marina was telling me about her Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian background, the family celebration over the years of different saints’ days. A group had gathered to listen, a common occurrence now around the media: at times this has led to hostility towards foreign journalists. But the mood here was much more restrained. “Listen to this poor lady, it is important. You were saying you have been staying in the Donbass – we know things have been bad there,” one woman was keen to explain, clutching my arm. “But this is Odessa, we are very different here from the coal-mining people: OK, like them I don’t want to be part of Ukraine, but we had learnt to get on with each other here, we debate things, it has always been like that.”

Certainly the history of the Black Sea port is a rich whirl of different races and cultures. Captured for Catherine the Great of Russia from the Ottomans by a Spanish-Irish soldier of fortune, Don Jose de Ribas, it began its rise with Armand Emmanuel Duc de Richelieu, a great-nephew of the French cardinal, as governor. One of his successors was Mikhail Vorontsov, who had a Russian father and a British mother who was a sister of the Earl of Pembroke. Even the Odessa Steps were built by an English engineer.

A German company provided gaslights; a British one the waterworks; the Belgians the trams; the Austrians the opera house. A Russian visitor wrote in 1840: “The Russian jostles against a Turk, a German against a Greek, an Englishman against an Armenian, an Italian against a Persian… Everything surges and mixes together.”

Odessa continued to feel cosmopolitan and saw itself as sophisticated and European through the communist time and beyond. There are supposedly the descendants of 200 nationalities here. This place, for liberals, should be the future of Ukraine in a microcosm. But the battle lines now are between the Russian and Ukrainian factions with extremists on both sides threatening retribution. Further violence here would pose huge difficulties for the Kiev administration which has embarked on a difficult military operation in the Donbass. It would also give a glimpse of a future of foreboding for the country.

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Ukraine’s interim government was swift to lay responsibility on the security forces for the deaths. Announcing the sacking of the police chief, Pyotr Lutsuk, the Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said: “I blame the security services and law enforcement officers for doing nothing; they are inefficient and they violated the law.” The following day riot police offered no resistance when a crowd burst into their headquarters: instead they freed around 70 prisoners from their cells.

The governor was sacked on Tuesday and replaced by Ihor Palytsya, an MP. Arsen Avakov, the acting Interior Minister, announced that an “elite special operations unit”, the Storm, was being sent to bring order to the city.



The police had been accused by the Ukrainian nationalists of shielding separatists carrying out attacks. This was denied by two policemen inside the trade union building. They said they were there to make sure everything was all right, but also to pay their respects. Their views were clear: “It will be a mistake to send in outside forces. What happened was terrible, but very unusual. This is our city, it is a special city, we have an understanding here, we can solve it ourselves,” said one of them, Pavel.

They may not get the chance to do so. At Kherson airport, normally used for package tours, military transport helicopters were unloading equipment, trucks were ready for more flights bringing in forces. Were they going to Odessa or the Donbass? “I cannot say, really cannot say, we are awaiting orders, I am just dealing with logistics,” said a sergeant. How would he feel about Odessa? “We used to go on holiday there, pretty place, shame if there’s more trouble there.”

The separatists in Odessa maintain they are ready, if punitive action does come their way. Yuri Shubovich, 23, had been one of those from the “anti-Maidan” movement, which sprang up in opposition to the Kiev protests, and was among those camping in the central square, Kulikovo Pole, which was attacked on Friday evening. “They burnt down our tents; they have been waiting for four months to do this, and they had their chance that night, the fascists. Then they went and burnt all those people inside the union building,” he exclaimed. “How can there be peace now? So we just wait for the Right Sector to kill more of us? No, people will defend themselves.”

The Right Sector, an extreme nationalist group, has become a bogeyman in the south and east of the country, accused of carrying out the Kiev administration’s dirty war. The few I met in Odessa did not seem capable of killings; they were rather a nasty, homophobic and racist lot who talked tough. They would not last long, one felt, on the streets of separatist Slovyansk.

“Please, don’t say we all support those kind of people. This is just a way of tainting those who are pro-democratic, who want a united Ukraine, people like me,” said an earnest Milla Kornukovenko. “Talk like that just creates trouble, that’s what our enemies want.” The 19-year-old student was on the march on Friday night, escaping as the fighting got fierce. “I was frightened, there were all kinds of people there: us, the separatists, ultras [football fans], people had axes, knives and guns. We don’t get things like this there.”

Odessa has not, of course, been completely free of vicious strife; one of Ukraine’s worst pogroms of modern times took place there in 1871, on the night before Easter, with Jewish homes and businesses destroyed as the police stood by. In 1941, Hitler’s forces killed around 170,000 Jews, 80 per cent of the community, in Odessa and its hinterland.

Shape Created with Sketch. Clashes in eastern Ukraine Show all 126 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Clashes in eastern Ukraine 1/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk EPA 2/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev EPA 3/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down EPA 4/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk 5/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk 6/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk 7/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin AP 8/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists AFP 9/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized AFP 10/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk AP 11/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 12/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk 13/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk 14/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 15/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 16/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 17/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk 18/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk 19/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk 20/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk 21/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk 22/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions AFP 23/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station Getty 24/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians Getty 25/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings AFP 26/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev EPA 27/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity EPA 28/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 29/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 30/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city Reuters 31/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters EPA 32/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists AFP/Getty 33/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building 34/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka 35/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk 36/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 37/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine AP 38/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area 39/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk 40/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk 41/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 42/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 43/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk 44/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk 45/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 46/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk 47/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk 48/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk 49/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk 50/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons 51/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland 52/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 53/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 54/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 55/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk 56/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk 57/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk 58/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 59/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 60/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk 61/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk 62/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 63/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk AFP 64/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk AFP 65/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 66/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Reuters 67/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk 68/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk 69/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 70/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 71/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk 72/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 73/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine 74/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk 75/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk 76/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area 77/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 78/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 79/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 80/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 81/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk AFP/Getty 82/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 83/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 84/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 85/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 86/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 87/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk 88/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 89/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 90/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 91/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv 92/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk 93/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk 94/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 95/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order 96/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk 97/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv 98/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 99/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign 100/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law 101/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action 102/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv 103/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 104/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 105/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv 106/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 107/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk 108/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk 109/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 110/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev 111/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 112/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 113/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk 114/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 115/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk 116/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic" 117/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 118/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk Getty Images 119/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building Getty Images 120/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine Getty Images 121/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine EPA 122/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Reuters 123/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 124/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine EPA 125/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 126/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Getty Images 1/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk EPA 2/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev EPA 3/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down EPA 4/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk 5/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk 6/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk 7/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin AP 8/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists AFP 9/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized AFP 10/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk AP 11/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 12/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk 13/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk 14/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 15/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 16/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 17/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk 18/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk 19/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk 20/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk 21/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk 22/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions AFP 23/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station Getty 24/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians Getty 25/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings AFP 26/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev EPA 27/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity EPA 28/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 29/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 30/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city Reuters 31/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters EPA 32/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists AFP/Getty 33/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building 34/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka 35/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk 36/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 37/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine AP 38/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area 39/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk 40/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk 41/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 42/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 43/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk 44/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk 45/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 46/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk 47/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk 48/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk 49/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk 50/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons 51/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland 52/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 53/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 54/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 55/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk 56/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk 57/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk 58/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 59/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 60/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk 61/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk 62/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 63/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk AFP 64/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk AFP 65/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 66/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Reuters 67/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk 68/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk 69/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 70/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 71/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk 72/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 73/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine 74/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk 75/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk 76/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area 77/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 78/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 79/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 80/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 81/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk AFP/Getty 82/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 83/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 84/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 85/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 86/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 87/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk 88/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 89/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 90/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 91/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv 92/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk 93/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk 94/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 95/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order 96/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk 97/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv 98/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 99/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign 100/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law 101/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action 102/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv 103/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 104/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 105/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv 106/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 107/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk 108/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk 109/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 110/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev 111/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 112/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 113/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk 114/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 115/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk 116/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic" 117/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 118/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk Getty Images 119/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building Getty Images 120/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine Getty Images 121/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine EPA 122/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Reuters 123/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 124/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine EPA 125/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 126/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Getty Images

This week the leader of the city’s Jewish community, Rabbi Refael Kruskal, stated that plans had been drawn up to evacuate families if anti-Semitism begins to rear its head. Tomorrow – 9 May, when Russians commemorate victory over Nazi Germany – is looked upon as a potential flashpoint across the country.

“The next weekend is going to be very violent”, the Rabbi told The Jerusalem Post. “When there is shooting in the streets, the first plan is to take the children out of the city centre. If it gets worse … we have plans to take them out of the city to a different country if necessary.”

Speaking of Jewish fears, Marina Votyakova shook her head: “I hope that does not happen. I think the Romanian part of my family came from Romanian soldiers who came here with the Germans. They did not take part in anything against the Jews. I would be very ashamed if that was not the case. I hope, instead of fighting, everyone gets together on that day. We need to get back our Odessa.”

Kiev's crackdown in Mariupol

“So you want to join Russia?” the masked soldier shouted as he repeatedly kicked a man who made no attempt to defend himself, at then at the end flying into an even greater rage and pistol whipping him. His comrades were firing into the ground in front of us, the bullets ricocheting up in the air, and doing their own bit of hitting of protestors.

It was an unprovoked attack on a section of people at the back of a demonstration who were not engaged in any acts of aggression. At the end there were a few cracked skulls, a broken nose, some cracked ribs. The incident outside the police station in Mariupol was hardly in the upper end of the violence which had spread across this region. But it did add to the sense of deep anger felt by many who feel under threat by the forces Kiev administration and will further strengthen the hands of those who had turned to the gun.

The Ukrainian soldiers in black combat uniforms, wearing balaclavas were variously described as members of the National Guard, the Ministry of Interior police or special - forces. They were ill-disciplined and disorganised, some of those beaten up were arrested, and punched some more, hooded and taken away in buses along with someone who was found with a Russian flag in his car. The man with his head split open with the pistol butt had his mobile phone crushed under a boot; he had been talking to his daughter on the phone.

Speaking to the companions of those detained, none seemed to be a hardened terrorist. Elena Rukoshova, a 26-year-old former nursery school teacher, cried as she described how her friend Jaroslav was hit and arrested. “He had his phone in his hand, the men in black thought he was taking photos. He showed them no pictures had been taken, but they hit him and took him away.”

William Hague has accused the Russians were fermenting all the disorder in Ukraine, but on this occasion we had failed to spot the cunning Kremlin agents. Dmitri Vachylaev, who had also been hit, asked: “What do you think of our democratic government, the ones Britain and America are so happy to support? I wasn’t even part of this protest, I am not a separatist. I was on my way to work, I live in that block of flats over there. Anyway, I better go, I am an insurance salesman, perhaps I can sell some policies on being attacked by the Ukrainian government.”

Kim Sengupta in Mariupol