Capture of Donetsk (2014)

The rapid intensification of the separatist movement in Donetsk began after the victory of the Revolution of Dignity and the escape of Viktor Yanukovych abroad. On March 1, 2014, about 10,000–15,000 people gathered for a rally demanding the support of Berkut fighters who killed demonstrators in Kyiv. The participants of the rally expressed distrust of the head of the Donetsk regional state administration Andrei Shishatsky and announced the commander of the People's Defense of Donbass Pavel Gubarev as their leader.  On the same day, the Donetsk City Council initiated a referendum on the status of the Donetsk region, and the initiative of the city council was supported by the Donetsk Regional Council.[7][8][9]

At about 12 o'clock, supporters of Pavel Gubarev were joined by activists of the separatist organization "Donetsk Republic", who, under anti-Ukrainian slogans, demanded the voluntary resignation of Andrei Shishatsky, and then moved to storm the building of the regional state administration. The aggressive actions of these supporters deterred about two dozen soldiers of the Special Forces "Griffon", who retreated under pressure. Under the walls of the Regional State Administration, demonstrators demanded to hold a referendum on the separation of the Donbass from Ukraine. The participants of the assault lowered the flag of Ukraine from the flagpole, replacing it with a Russian flag; the flag of the Donetsk region on another flagpole was not changed by protesters.[10][11]

In the evening, the Donetsk City Council, fearing the pressure of pro-Russian forces, convened an extraordinary session, which unanimously decided to hold a referendum on the region remaining a part of Ukraine.[9] In addition, city deputies decided to grant the Russian language the status of an official language (with Ukrainian) to establish a moratorium on price increases and reduce the level of social payments. This was to create a municipal police force and recognize Russia as a strategic partner of the region. It was also recommended to the Donetsk Regional Council (together with the Luhansk Regional Council) to create a commission for the formation of the stabilization fund of the Donbass.[12]

On March 3, pro-Russian demonstrators seized part of the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, where, at a meeting of the regional council, deputies elected a new chairman of the council (Andriy Shyshatsky) and supported the decision to hold a referendum on the territory of the Donetsk region on the most pressing issues for residents of the region, condemning calls for the region's separation from Ukraine.[13] About 1,000[14] people with Russian tricolors (led by self-proclaimed Governor Pavel Gubarev) stormed the session hall of the regional council, causing a clash. Pavel Gubarev addressed the audience; in his speech, he called himself the "people's governor" and ordered information of representatives of the Russian media that the regional state administration in his person did not accept the central government in Kyiv. In addition, the self-proclaimed governor said that it was planned to create a "provisional government of Donbass" and self-defense forces, and it was also proposed to the leadership of the Air Force, prosecutor's office and the SBU of the region to take an oath to the "people's authorities ". Pro-Russian activists blocked the institution, preventing employees from leaving it; it was also reported that about three deputies who did not have time to leave the regional council were forced to write statements about the drafting of their deputy powers. During the seizure of the administration, unknown people attacked the head of the regional council Andrei Shishatsky, who managed to free himself from the attackers thanks to police officers and the SBU, but during other events in the administration, the internal affairs officers did not resist the activists.[15][16]

On March 5, under the pretext of detecting an explosive device in the building, the police cleared the regional administration building of protesters, and the Ukrainian flag was once again hung over the building. By 16:00, about 5,000–7,000[17] protesters of referendum supporters had gathered under the administration, including activists of the "People's Militia of Donbas", "Russian bloc" and activists from Russia (including the former leader of the far-right organization "Shield of Moscow" Oexiy Khudyakov). At the same time, a rally of supporters of Ukraine's unity began at Svobody Square, which gathered about 7,000–10,000 protesters. Some time after the start of the rally near the building of the regional administration, protesters led by Gubarev began to storm the building; there were clashes with soldiers of internal troops and police guarding the building. As a result of clashes with the police, the supporters of the referendum once again occupied the RSA (Regional State Administration) building and hung the Russian flag over it.

After the seizure of the RSA building, the pro-Russian forces split. About a few hundred of them supported Pavel Gubarev and went to seize the building of the Main Directorate of the Treasury in the Donetsk region, first mistakenly arriving at the Financial Inspection building, then, having reached the correct building, they began its blockade. At the same time, another group of about 1,500 pro-Russian activists moved towards Freedom Square, where they got into a fight with rallying supporters of Ukraine. Some supporters of the referendum, about 200 people, remained in the RSA building.[17]

The next day, March 6, at about 6:45 a.m., the police freed the RSA building from the protesters, detaining 70 people, and the Ukrainian flag was returned to the building. At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine arrested Pavel Gubarev. In the evening of this day, about 200 supporters of Gubarev picketed the building of the Main Directorate of the SBU in the Donetsk region, demanding the release of their leader.

On March 13, an anti-war rally for Ukraine's unity was attacked by pro-Russian activists. Law enforcement officers and self-defense tried to protect the participants of the action, which allowed most of them to leave Lenin Square. After the retreat of the main group of supporters of the integrity of Ukraine, police officers hid members of self-defense in their bus. They surrounded the supporters of the union of the Donbass with Russia. They pierced wheels, smashed windows and threw firecrackers at the cars; tear gas was sprayed. The police managed to detain several attackers, but under pressure from the crowd they were released. According to official information, one person died from stab wounds during the fightand 10 people were hospitalized; three were taken to the neurosurgical department of the M. Kalinin Hospital. According to media reports, the death toll is 2–3 people; at least 50 people were injured.[18][19]

On March 19, the Security Service of Ukraine arrested Andrei Purgin, the leader of the Donetsk People's Republic, who took part in the assaults on the RSA building on March 3 and 5.[20]

On April 5, a rally of supporters of federalization and accession to Russia was held. About 1,000 people gathered for the rally led by Denis Pushilin, who called himself deputy of "people's governor" Pavel Gubarev.

On April 6, about 2,000 pro-Russian protesters gathered in Lenin Square. After the end of the rally, the protesters marched along Artema Street to the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration. Protesters began to storm the building; there were clashes with the police, who guarded it. After two groups of separatists managed to enter the courtyard and the building itself, and a grenade was thrown outside the window of the building, the security forces retreated; the building was again under the control of the separatists; the flags of Russia and the DPR were hung over the administration. After the seizure of the Regional State Administration, the protesters published a resolution demanding the immediate convening of an extraordinary session of the Donetsk Regional Council and its decision to hold a referendum on joining Russia.

On April 7, 2014, in the session hall of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, separatists proclaimed a "declaration of sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic", which was proclaimed on the territory of the Donetsk region. On April 10, supporters of the Donetsk People's Republic announced a referendum and began the formation of an "election commission".

According to Lesya Orobets on April 14, 2014, in Donetsk, the majority of policemen betrayed Ukraine. On April 16, separatists seized the city hall building.

On April 17, a patriotic rally was held in Donetsk, where about three thousand people gathered. The protesters held a large yellow and blue Ukrainian flag; Oleg Lyashko took part also. The Donetsk Regional State Administration, meanwhile, remains under the control of the invaders. On April 25, Ukrainian flags could be seen at a rally in memory of the victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

On April 28, the last patriotic rally in Donetsk to date took place. The marchers for a united Ukraine were attacked with bats by people in camouflage. As a result, 15 people were seriously injured; 5 people are missing. Despite the fact that the aggression of separatist gangs was predictable, the Donetsk police remained idle.

The referendum designed to legitimize the DPR was held on May 11, 2014, and its result, according to the announcement of the initiators, was that 89.07 percent of voters voted for the proclamation of the Donetsk People's Republic.[21]

The official report on the human rights situation in Ukraine by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights states that on May 15, the UOC-KP condemned violence and threats to the life and health of the clergy and believers of Eastern Ukraine by armed groups, and also states that numerous attacks on an interreligious prayer marathon (participated in by all major denominations except for the Moscow Patriarchate) are taking place in Donetsk, including severe beatings of participants, destruction of property and threats. Reports of attacks have also come from other denominations, such as Protestants.[21]

On May 23, after another attack by 15 DPR representatives, organizers and volunteers went to the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration in an attempt to discuss security measures. The coordinator of the prayer marathon, Sergiy Kosyak, was badly beaten and had to seek medical help.[21]

As a result of constant hostilities in Donetsk, infrastructure, including residential areas and enterprises, has been destroyed. As of January 22, 2015, the infrastructure damages in the ATO zone included 866 damaged structures, 103 of which were completely destroyed, including the Zhovtnevyi and Sokol markets.

Shelling often leads to the death of local residents. The largest number of victims was inflicted by mortar shelling of a public transport stop, committed on January 22, 2015, in which 13 people were killed. Both sides of the conflict accused each other of responsibility for the attack.[30]

On February 8, 2015, at 22:45, a powerful explosion occurred at the Donetsk State Chemical Products Plant in Kuibyshev Raion.