Olexander Turchynov , Ukraine's acting president called for an emergency security meeting after pro-Russia demonstrators forced their way into government buildings in three East Ukrainian cities, Sunday.
Turchynov also cancelled his visit to Lithuania, where he was supposed to partake in talks with members of the European Union's parliament, following the unrest.
The protestors captured regional government offices in Donetsk, an industrial city, and security services building in Luhansk. The demonstrators later forced their way in to an administrative building in Kharkiv, second largest city in Ukraine.
The pro-Russians demanded a referendum for joining Russia. Prior to seizing the government buildings around 1,500 people protested in Donetsk, Sunday. A news channel in Ukraine said that three people were injured in the chaos in Luhansk. But police did not confirm the report.
A Donetsk local police spokesman said a large mob forcefully took control of the government buildings and at least 100 protesters barricaded themselves inside, reports BBC. Police in Luhansk fired tear gas at the demonstrators. Police officers refrained from using force against the crowd.
Demonstrators in Donetsk demanded an emergency meeting from the regional lawmakers to discuss about referendum similar to that of Crimea. "Deputies of the regional council should convene before midnight and take the decision to carry out a referendum," one of the protest leaders said, reports Reuters.
Arsen Avakov, interior minister of Ukraine blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych of "ordering and paying for another wave of separatist turmoil in the country's east."
"The people who have gathered are not many but they are very aggressive. The situation will be brought under control without bloodshed. But at the same time, a firm approach will be used against all who attack government buildings, law enforcement officers and other citizens," he wrote on his official Facebook page.
Yanukovych was ousted as president in February this year after months of protests from the Ukrainians who accused him to be a Putin loyal. Since then he has taken shelter in Russia.
Political and diplomatic relations worsened between the two countries after Russia annexed Crimea, an autonomous region in Ukraine. Over 96 percent of Crimeans voted in favor of Russia and demanded reunification.
The referendum was called illegitimate by Ukraine and the West. Following the annexation, the United States and EU imposed financial sanctions and travel ban against Russian and Ukrainian officials responsible for the seizure of Crimea. However, the sanctions did not seem to bother Russia who went ahead with the annexation.
