On April 7, 2014, a Republican People's Council was established in Donetsk, which declared the sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and decided to hold a referendum on the status of the region on May 11.
Speaking about the protest events in southeastern Ukraine, RIA Novosti highlights Donetsk: "In Donetsk, people who occupied the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration held a meeting on Monday, where they declared their intention to create the Donetsk Republic within the borders of Donetsk Oblast and join the Russian Federation following a referendum on this issue."
In its daily event chronicle, TASS reports: "Deputies of the Donetsk Regional Council declared the state sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic. The corresponding act was read out at a session of the regional council. The deputies also decided to hold a referendum on the region's accession to Russia no later than May 11."
Vesti.ru quotes the text of the declaration as the foundation for the creation of the republic: "Only the Supreme Council of the republic may act on behalf of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic. The most important state issues related to the development of the republic and its relations with other states are submitted for nationwide discussion or referendum."
RT in Russian shares the fact of the DPR's creation: "In Donetsk, supporters of Ukraine's federalization, who took control of the regional administration building, proclaimed the establishment of the independent Donetsk People's Republic. The decision was announced by deputies of the regional council." Their next report mentions the creation of a similar republic in Kharkov: "Kharkov activists today announced the establishment of a 'people's republic' in the city. The decision was declared near the regional administration building."
Izvestia covers the events leading up to the republic's proclamation: "On April 7, Donetsk proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Deputies of the regional council and supporters of Ukraine’s federalization also announced the date of the referendum on the republic's status — May 11."
Interfax: "People who occupied the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration held a meeting on Monday afternoon, where they voted for the declaration of sovereignty of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic."
The next report covers the intention of the Donetsk Regional People's Council to hold a referendum on the creation of the Donetsk People's Republic no later than May 11.
The British The Guardian initially omits the fact of the republic's creation, and only a couple of weeks later publishes an article titled "Inside the 'Donetsk People's Republic': Balaclavas, Stalin Flags and Razorwire." The piece describes the interior of the Donetsk Regional State Administration building, which serves as the base for "pro-Russian militants": "There are several caricatures of Barack Obama. There is Obama as Hitler, complete with moustache. There is Obama, Bonaparte and the Führer, and the words: "They all thought their nations were superior." And there is Obama as a monkey.”
The British The Telegraph draws parallels with the situation in Crimea while reporting on the DPR's declaration of independence: "Pro-Russian activists who seized the provincial administrative building in the city of Donetsk over the weekend announced the formation Monday of the independent Donetsk People's Republic. They also called for a referendum on the secession of the Donetsk region, which borders Russia, to be held no later than May 11. Russia annexed Crimea last month, following a referendum called just two weeks after the Black Sea peninsula had been overtaken by Russian forces. Ukraine and the West have rejected the vote and the annexation as illegal."
The New York Times also recalls the Crimean scenario: "The events unfolding in Donetsk and other parts of eastern Ukraine are very similar to those that led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. In fact, the pro-Russian separatists who seized the local administration building in Donetsk, the industrial heart of the Donbass, are following the script developed in Crimea to the letter. They have declared the region’s independence from Ukraine and called for a referendum by May 11 on joining Russia."
The French Le Figaro describes the situation in southeastern Ukraine as "raising concerns": "In Donetsk, the capital of the Donbass mining basin, these activists took down the Ukrainian flag that had been flying over the government building and replaced it with the Russian flag. They proclaimed the creation of the 'Donetsk People's Republic' and demanded a referendum on self-determination by May 11, following the model used to ratify Crimea’s independence. They warned that they would request Russia to send a 'peacekeeping contingent' in case of aggression from the Kiev authorities, whom they consider illegitimate."
The Italian La Repubblica reports on the DPR’s creation while covering protests in eastern Ukraine: "Yesterday, demonstrations and raids by pro-Russian activists took place in major eastern cities: Kharkov, Lugansk, and Donetsk. In the latter, the industrial capital of eastern Ukraine, militants who seized the regional administration headquarters today declared the creation of an independent 'People's Republic' from Kiev and scheduled a referendum no later than May 11." The outlet also provides a video of the proclamation of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Spanish RTVE writes about the protests in eastern Ukraine and the desire for autonomy in the eastern regions: "In Donetsk, a city of one million inhabitants, protesters who forcibly seized the regional government headquarters on Sunday declared a 'people’s republic' and called for a referendum on joining Russia, similar to the Crimean referendum, on May 11. The same happened in the Kharkov region."
The Brazilian El País refers to "radical groups" that have taken power in Donetsk: "Pro-Russian protesters barricaded inside the government headquarters of Ukraine’s Donetsk region declared the independence of this Russian-speaking region of Ukraine on Monday and called for a referendum on joining Russia no later than May 11. 'The Donetsk People’s Republic is being created within the administrative borders of the region. This decision will take effect after the referendum.'”
The Estonian Postimees reports on the creation of the DPR and recalls the unrest in the eastern regions: "The corresponding decision was reportedly made by the self-proclaimed 'people’s council' created by activists. Last weekend, another wave of pro-Russian demonstrations took place in eastern Ukraine (in Donetsk, Kharkov, and Lugansk), accompanied by building seizures. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, in turn, promised a tough response to the unrest."
Ukrainska Pravda reported on the creation of the Donetsk People's Republic and the reaction of the crowd: "Separatists are removing the flag of Donetsk Region from the building of the regional state administration and replacing it with the flag of the 'Donetsk Republic'... A speaker announced that from this moment, the 'Independent Donetsk Republic' has been created. 'From now on, Donetsk Region is an independent republic. Hurrah!' he said. The crowd greeted this statement with applause and chants of 'Russia, Russia.'"
UNIAN: "Today, Monday, April 7, at 12 o’clock, the separatists who seized the Donetsk Regional State Administration plan to announce a 'people’s mandate,' meaning they intend to 'dissolve the regional council' and 'elect representatives' from all sectors of the public in the region as deputies."
Author · Mar 31, 2025
