KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian news agency is reporting that pro-Russian separatists who have seized the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk proclaimed the region an independent republic.
The activists on Monday also called for a referendum on the sovereignty of the Donetsk region, which borders Russia, to be held no later than May 11, the Interfax news agency reported.
The move comes weeks after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region following a referendum, not recognized by the West, in which Crimeans voted to join Russia.
