The Ukrainian government said a town hall at Mariupol in the east of the country had been "liberated" on April 24 from pro-Russian protesters, but the situation on the ground was less clear. Dozens of pro-Moscow demonstrators were surrounding it later in the day and controlling access to the building, which was still flying the separatist flag. Tires and barbed-wire barricades remained in place
Reuters: Separatists surround ‘liberated’ Ukraine city hall
A pro-Russian demonstrator sits near a barricade in front of the City Council in Mariupol on April 17.
