Protesters retake Donetsk government building

A dozen people have been injured in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk as pro-Russian protesters retook a local government building.

More than 2,000 people gathered on Wednesday outside the regional administrative building before a number of protesters broke through police barricades and entered the facility.

The Russian flag was later hung from the window of the administrative building on the 11th floor.

This is while rival rallies were being held outside the building and reports said scores of anti-Russian protesters are fighting to recapture the building.

Other reports said a large number of pro-Russian demonstrators were heading towards Donetsk’s Treasury building.

The developments came after Ukrainian police had evacuated the regional administrative building earlier on Wednesday from pro-Russian protesters occupying the facility on March 3.

In recent days, pro-Russian protesters have seized several government buildings around Ukraine, particularly in the east.

Pro-Russian demonstrators have reportedly stormed the provincial council in the Ukrainian southern city of Odessa.

On March 1, more than 10,000 people took part in a huge rally in Donetsk to stress their allegiance to Ukraine’s ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.

The industrial city is situated close to the Russian border and is considered as a stronghold of Yanukovych.

Donetsk’s city council has already refused to recognize Ukraine’s new government and called for a referendum on the region’s status.

Political crisis erupted in Ukraine in November 2013, after the Yanukovych refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.