A Russian tricolor that was hoisted on a mast in front of the building Sunday has been replaced with a larger one. (Credit: ITAR-TASS)

The legislators also passed a decision on holding a referendum on whether or not the region should get incorporated in the Russian Federation.

The members of the regional legislature in Ukraine’s industrial centre of Donetsk have proclaimed the city Donetsk People’s Republic, local mass media reports.

An Act on State Sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic was read out on April 7 at a session of the regional council.

The legislators also passed a decision on holding a referendum on whether or not the region should join the Russian Federation. It will be held no later than May 11.

On this background, residents of the city of Donetsk, the administrative centre of Ukraine’s vital heavily industrialised Donbass Coalfields area, were holding an action of protest in front of the building of the Regional State Administration.

In the meantime, a Russian tricolor that was hoisted on a mast in front of the building Sunday has been replaced with a larger one.

(Source: ITAR-TASS)