Supporters of Russia hit the streets to demonstrate in Ukraine
Images of pro-Russia demonstrators during the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia on Thursday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum within 10 days on the decision in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula. Text and photos by Reuters
- The Ukrainian flag flies on top of the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 5, 2014. Ukraine raised its flag on Wednesday over the government headquarters in Donetsk where a Russian flag had stood for five days, witnesses said, an important signal of shifting control in the Russian-speaking east. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators hold a rally outside the regional government building in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- A woman looks through a damaged entrance door as pro-Russian demonstrators hold a rally outside the regional government building in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators hold a rally outside the regional government building in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators hold a rally outside the regional government building in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators hold a meeting after entering the regional government building in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Ukrainian Interior Ministry members are seen through windows of the regional government building as pro-Russian demonstrators hold a rally in Donetsk on March 3, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Protest leader Pavel Gubarev (second left, front) and other pro-Russian demonstrators hold a meeting after entering the regional government building in Donetsk, on March 3, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators erect a Russian flag outside the regional government building in Donetsk, on March 3, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Pro-Russian protesters clash with a supporter of Ukraine’s new government during a rally in central Donetsk on March 1, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian protesters with the Russian Presidential flag take part in a rally in central Donetsk on March 1, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian protesters with Russian flags take part in a rally in central Donetsk on March 1, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- A woman wearing a pro-Russian ribbon stands near Ukrainian police officers outside the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (Reuters photo)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators storm the regional government building in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. Pro-Moscow youths recaptured the administrative headquarters of the eastern city of Donetsk and flew the Russian flag from its roof on Wednesday, hours after Kiev’s authorities managed to fly their own flag there for the first time since Saturday. (REUTERS photo)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators take part in a rally in the Crimean town of Yevpatoria on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Maks Levin)
- A woman and children walk in front of pro-Russian supporters who are blocking the gate to the Ukrainian Navy headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, on March 6, 2014. (REUTERS/Baz Ratner)
- A wounded participant of an anti-war rally reacts during clashes with pro-Russian demonstrators in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Mikhail Maslovsky)
- Police detain a pro-Russian demonstrator during clashes with participants of an anti-war rally in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Mikhail Maslovsky)
- Participants gather behind police officers as they take part in an anti-war rally in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Participants hold placards and shout slogans during an anti-war rally in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Pro-Russian demonstrators raise a Russian flag outside the regional government building in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Valeriy Bilokryl)
- Pro-Russian supporters block the car carrying U.N. special envoy Robert Serry before his departure in Simferopol, on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)
- A pro-Russian supporter poses in front of a Russian flag at a meeting in Simferopol on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)
- A pro-Russian supporter takes part in a meeting in Simferopol, on March 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)
- Protest leader Pavel Gubarev (second from right, top) and other pro-Russian demonstrators take part in a rally in front of regional government building in Donetsk on March 5, 2014. (Reuters photo)