Attempts to seize the Donetsk Regional State Administration (RSA) building began since proRussian protests erupted in the

eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, in the wake of the 2014

Ukrainian revolution. Pro-Russian protesters occupied the Donetsk RSA from 16 March, before
being removed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).[116][117] On 6 April, 1,0002,000 people
gathered at a rally in Donetsk to demand a status referendum similar to the one held in Crimea in
March.[118][119]The demonstrators stormed the RSA building, and took control of its first two floors.
They said that if an extraordinary legislative session was not held by regional officials to
implement a status referendum, they would take control of the regional government with a
"people's mandate", and dismiss all elected regional councillors and members of parliament. [120][121]
[122]

As these demands were not met, the activists held a meeting in the RSA building, and voted

in favour of independence from Ukraine. They proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
[123]

Luhansk Oblast[edit]
Unrest in Luhansk Oblast began on 6 April, when approximately 1,000 activists seized and
occupied the SBU building in the city of Luhansk, following similar occupations in the cities
of Donetsk and Kharkiv.[124][125] Protesters barricaded the building, and demanded that all arrested
separatist leaders be released.[124][126] Police were able to retake control of the building, but the
demonstrators regathered for a 'people's assembly' outside the building and called for a 'people's
government', demanding either federalisation or incorporation into the Russian Federation.[127]
[128]

At this assembly, they elected Valery Bolotov to the position of "People's Governor".[129] Two

referendums were announced, one on 11 May to determine whether the region should seek
some form of autonomy, and a second scheduled for 18 May to determine whether the region
should join the Russian Federation, or declare independence.[130]
The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) was declared on 27 April.[131] Representatives of the
Republic demanded that Ukrainian government provide amnesty for all protesters, enshrine
Russian as an official language, and hold a referendum on the status of the region. [131] They
issued an ultimatum that stated that if Kiev did not meet their demands by 14:00 on 29 April, they
would launch an insurgency in tandem with that of the Donetsk People's Republic.[131][132]