Clashes in Ukraine leave several people injured

Several people have been injured as heavy clashes broke out between pro-Russia protesters and supporters of the Ukrainian government in the city of Kharkiv.

According to local officials, several people, including a security officer, were injured in the clashes which erupted on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, pro-Russia demonstrators seized a regional telecenter in Ukraine’s eastern city of Donetsk, accusing the station of broadcasting distorted news in relation to the developments in Ukraine.

The demonstrators were calling for “Russia” and “Referendum.” They also demanded Russian TV stations to be put back on air.

Meanwhile, Igor Strelkov, a commander of the forces of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk, confirmed on the same day that three members of the Alpha special tactical assault group of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) have been detained in the city of Gorlovka in Donetsk region.

On April 17, Ukraine’s interim government together with the United States, Russia and the European Union reached an agreement in the Swiss city of Geneva, calling for all sides to ease the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine, where anti-Kiev protesters keep occupying state buildings in several towns and cities.

In the past weeks, pro-Russian activists have taken control of government buildings in more than ten cities in the eastern parts of the country. They have been demanding local referendums on independence.

Tensions between Western powers and Moscow heightened after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and became part of Russia following a referendum on March 16, in which almost 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining the Russian Federation, with a turnout of over 83 percent.