It followed the creation of an independent republic in the east of the country.

Tensions yesterday, April 8, 2014, rose further in Ukraine after pro-Russian militants in the eastern part of the country announced a referendum on secession by May 11, 2014. The move came on the heels of the creation by the protesters of an independent republic after seizing government buildings and flying Russian flags on them, agency reports said.

The demonstrators had earlier on Sunday, April 6, 2014, announced the formation of new governments in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, where Russian-speaking people are in the majority. Ukraine yesterday said 70 people were arrested in ‘anti-terrorist operations’ in Kharkiv as negotiations were underway with pro-Moscow protesters in Donetsk, the CNN reported. Late on April 7, 2014, Special Forces cleared armed protesters from the headquarters of Ukraine’s security services in Donetsk, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov's office announced.

However, armed demonstrators yesterday remained in control of security buildings in Luhansk. Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Kiev that any use of force in Ukraine's eastern region could lead to civil war. It said reports that the protesters, including those occupying a regional administration building in the city of Donetsk, were facing a crackdown by Ukrainian authorities, were of particular concern.

According to the BBC, the White House on Monday warned Russia against "either overtly or covertly moving into eastern Ukraine." It called on Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to "cease efforts" to aggravate the situation. Moscow denies orchestrating instability and separatist sentiments in Ukraine's industrial heartland. Russia has thousands of troops massed along its border with eastern Ukraine. Although it insists it has no intention of invading Ukraine, it says it reserves the right to defend ethnic Russians in the country.

Eastern Ukraine was the political heartland of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. He fled Kiev last February for Russia after months of street protests triggered by his refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. Russia refuses to recognise the new authorities in Kiev. Meanwhile, senior diplomats from the US, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, are expected to meet within the next 10 days in an effort to defuse the tension.