LUHANSK, April 10. /ITAR-TASS/. About 1,500 residents in Luhansk have gathered near the Security Service building to defend it.
In the evening when the working day ends, many people are expected to come to join the demonstrators.
"We are ready to be faced with an assault, but hope the building will not be stormed. The main thing is that we feel people's support," said Sergei Grachev, the commandant of the Security Service building seized by demonstrators.
Buses with people in uniform appeared from time to time, and there were reports about possible storming, he said.
Law-enforcers have not interfered in the situation. No law-enforcers are seen near the seized building.
Police are on duty at checkpoints at streets leading to the building. No individual transport is allowed to pass, but buses and other passenger vehicles have passed freely.
Anti-Maidan activists in Luhansk confirm that armoured vehicles and up to 200 soldiers of the Ukrainian National Guard indeed were brought into the city earlier on Thursday. Witnesses say armoured vehicles arrived in the city at about 06:00 local time. One of the six vehicles broke down on the way, and it was towed. For the present, all the vehicles are deployed at the airport.
Several dozens of Right Sector militants and 100-200 National Guard soldiers are in the area of Luhansk, according to various reports. They are led by Security Council secretary Andriy Parubiy personally, demonstrators say.
At the same time, the situation in the city is calm. Kindergartens and schools are working as usual. Prices in stores have not changed. There is no shortage of anything. Public and emergency services are working as normal.
No special security measures are taken at the entry to Luрansk. Two checkpoints to examine transport are on the road linking Donetsk and Luрansk. But only some of vehicles are examined. Passengers in buses are not examined. Only documents of drivers are checked.