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Ukrainian law enforcers storm Mariupol City Council

The Mariupol City Council’s building has changed hands a few times over the past two days

DONETSK, May 08. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian law enforcers taking part in a punitive operation by the Kiev authorities in Ukraine’s east are storming the building of the city council in Mariupol in the Donetsk Region, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic’s press service said on Thursday.

“The militia is holding its positions,” the press service said.

Militiamen, trying to protect themselves from special forces’ attacks, set on fire makeshift barricades made of car tires. Black smoke is rising above the building. Traffic on nearby streets has not been stopped, local media report.

The Mariupol City Council’s building has changed hands a few times over the past two days. Law enforcers from the Ukrainian special unit Omega used an unknown pungent gas when storming the building early on May 7.

“Overall, there were 60 people in the building, 17 people were detained, they were paralyzed and were unable to go out,” the Donetsk People’s Republic’s press service told ITAR-TASS.