Under pressure from pro-Russian activists, the City Council of Donetsk on Saturday unanimously declared itself to be the sole legitimate authority in the city, according to the ZN.UA Web site.

“Until it becomes clear whether the laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada [parliament] are legitimate and the new bodies of state authority are recognized, the entire responsibility for the economic support of the territories shall be vested in bodies of local government,” the council said in a resolution.