Vostok Battalion Raids, Empties Headquarters of Donetsk People's Republic in Ukraine

In Donetsk, the pro-Russian Vostok Battalion surrounded the headquarters of the Donetsk People’s Republic and forced everyone out. The battalion insists it is not a coup, but a police operation.

Christopher Miller, editor of The Kyiv Post and contributor to Mashable, and others are on the scene.

Roland Oliphant with The Telegraph tweeted the DNR’s leadership knew about this action and claim the operation is about looters. Apparently, looting carries a death sentence.

Donetsk has been a deadly city since May 26, a day after Petro Poroshenko was elected president of Ukraine. Over 45 pro-Russians died after the rebels seized the airport and train station. Looters tore apart a Metro Cash & Carry hypermarket near the airport and company spokesman Olesya Olenytska said the police did not stop it. The store was closed due to major fighting and no one was in the building. The owners closed the store on May 26.

“In order to assure the safety of our customers and employees, the Metro store located on 7 Zlitna Street near Donetsk airport has been temporarily closed as of May 26, 2014 until further notice. The rest of three Metro stores in Donetsk region continue working in normal mode, serving our customers,” Olenytska stated.

Miller noted Donetsk turned into a ghost town after the airport was seized and many buildings boarded up doors and windows.

The Vostok Battalion