Tensions are running high in eastern Ukraine as a deadline set by Kyiv for pro-Russian gunmen to vacate government buildings passed early on April 14. Here's a look at the situation on the ground in flashpoint cities.
Slovyansk
A Russian flag is flying over police headquarters as masked men continue to man barricades of sandbags in front of it.
Pro-Russian forces are also occupying the offices of the State Security Service.
Here's fresh footage of the occupied building: Local media reports say armed men in camouflage entered the city administration building early on April 14.
Separatists are reporting to a man called Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, who says he has taken over leadership of the city after, he claims, the mayor fled.
A coordinator for the pro-Russia forces, who identified himself only as Mykola, told Interfax that his fighters were "on alert" and ready to "stand until the end."
Schools and colleges in this coal-mining town of 100,000 inhabitants have been closed until further notice. Parents have been advised to keep their children indoors.
On April 13, Ukrainian special forces exchanged gunfire with pro-Russia forces in the first reported gunbattle in the east.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook page that one Ukrainian state security officer was killed and five were wounded on the government side in the clashes. He said there were "dead and wounded on both sides."
Luhansk
Several hundred people were gathered outside the district administration building early on April 14. The staff has been evacuated.
Protest leaders have given the district administration head an ultimatum to surrender.
Local journalists say there are Cossacks and masked men in camouflage among the protesters. Several local Communist Party lawmakers have also been spotted in the crowd.
Meanwhile, pro-Euromaidan demonstrators continue rallying for Ukrainian unity.
Horlivka
Pro-Russia activists have seized the local police building and raised the flag of the "Donetsk People's Republic." They are also in control of city hall.
Video streamed by a local website, 06242.com.ua, showed an unidentified man in military-style fatigues telling the crowd the town had a new police chief appointed by protest leaders.
This video feed showed a big crowd of people outside the building and occasional footage from inside on April 14.
The deputy head of the local police has reportedly been captured, handcuffed, and taken to Donetsk.
Donetsk
Pro-Russia forces are showing no sign of retreating.
They are still occupying the regional administration building and have raised the flag of the "Donetsk People's Republic."
On April 12, hundreds of uniformed men seized the police headquarters and forced the police chief to resign.
Kharkiv
About 50 people were injured on April 13 after pro-Russian demonstrators clashed with pro-Ukrainian activists. Police say 10 people were hospitalized.
Zaporizhzhya
On April 13, an estimated 3,000 pro-Ukraine supporters took to the streets and faced off with several hundred pro-Russia supporters.
Pro-Ukraine demonstrators threw eggs, flour, and milk at their surrounded rivals for several hours.
Kramatorsk
Pro-Russia gunmen took control of the police headquarters on April 13.
Footage shows the attackers were a well-organized unit of over 20 men wearing matching military fatigues and firing automatic weapons.
Mariupol
City hall is in the hands of armed masked men. Pro-Russian forces have erected barricades and raised a Russian flag over the building. Mariupol is just 50 kilometers from the Russian border.
Makiyivka
Separatists in this highly industrialized town have seized the local administration building. Eyewitnesses said the takeover was peaceful.
Here's footage from outside and inside the occupied building:
Druzhkivka
Separatists are in control of the district administration building.
Yenakiyene
Three administrative buildings have been seized: the city council, the prosecutor's office, and the local police headquarters.
Khartsyzk
A map of all the seized buildings is available here:
Slovyansk
A Russian flag is flying over police headquarters as masked men continue to man barricades of sandbags in front of it.
Pro-Russian forces are also occupying the offices of the State Security Service.
Here's fresh footage of the occupied building: Local media reports say armed men in camouflage entered the city administration building early on April 14.
Separatists are reporting to a man called Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, who says he has taken over leadership of the city after, he claims, the mayor fled.
A coordinator for the pro-Russia forces, who identified himself only as Mykola, told Interfax that his fighters were "on alert" and ready to "stand until the end."
Schools and colleges in this coal-mining town of 100,000 inhabitants have been closed until further notice. Parents have been advised to keep their children indoors.
On April 13, Ukrainian special forces exchanged gunfire with pro-Russia forces in the first reported gunbattle in the east.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook page that one Ukrainian state security officer was killed and five were wounded on the government side in the clashes. He said there were "dead and wounded on both sides."
Luhansk
Several hundred people were gathered outside the district administration building early on April 14. The staff has been evacuated.
Protest leaders have given the district administration head an ultimatum to surrender.
Local journalists say there are Cossacks and masked men in camouflage among the protesters. Several local Communist Party lawmakers have also been spotted in the crowd.
Meanwhile, pro-Euromaidan demonstrators continue rallying for Ukrainian unity.
Horlivka
Pro-Russia activists have seized the local police building and raised the flag of the "Donetsk People's Republic." They are also in control of city hall.
Video streamed by a local website, 06242.com.ua, showed an unidentified man in military-style fatigues telling the crowd the town had a new police chief appointed by protest leaders.
This video feed showed a big crowd of people outside the building and occasional footage from inside on April 14.
The deputy head of the local police has reportedly been captured, handcuffed, and taken to Donetsk.
Donetsk
Pro-Russia forces are showing no sign of retreating.
They are still occupying the regional administration building and have raised the flag of the "Donetsk People's Republic."
On April 12, hundreds of uniformed men seized the police headquarters and forced the police chief to resign.
Kharkiv
About 50 people were injured on April 13 after pro-Russian demonstrators clashed with pro-Ukrainian activists. Police say 10 people were hospitalized.
Zaporizhzhya
On April 13, an estimated 3,000 pro-Ukraine supporters took to the streets and faced off with several hundred pro-Russia supporters.
Pro-Ukraine demonstrators threw eggs, flour, and milk at their surrounded rivals for several hours.
Kramatorsk
Pro-Russia gunmen took control of the police headquarters on April 13.
Footage shows the attackers were a well-organized unit of over 20 men wearing matching military fatigues and firing automatic weapons.
Mariupol
City hall is in the hands of armed masked men. Pro-Russian forces have erected barricades and raised a Russian flag over the building. Mariupol is just 50 kilometers from the Russian border.
Makiyivka
Separatists in this highly industrialized town have seized the local administration building. Eyewitnesses said the takeover was peaceful.
Here's footage from outside and inside the occupied building:
Druzhkivka
Separatists are in control of the district administration building.
Yenakiyene
Three administrative buildings have been seized: the city council, the prosecutor's office, and the local police headquarters.
Khartsyzk
A map of all the seized buildings is available here:
