Defense minister of Donetsk People's Republic detained — Avakov

Defense Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Igor Kakidzyanov, has been detained, parliament-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said at a session of the Cabinet of Ministers in Kharkiv.
Kakidzyanov is suspected of attempted murder.

“As a result of today’s special operation, the situation in Mariupol has been taken under control. At the same time, the Defense Minister of Donetsk People’s Republic Igor Kakidzyanov was arrested,” Avakov said.

The decision to form a “people’s army” was taken by participants of the protest rally in Donetsk on April 10. On the same day, Kakidzyanov was appointed the Defense Minister of the self-proclaimed republic.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister said on Wednesday that administrative buildings in Mariupol, including the City Council, have been taken under the control of Ukraine’s security forces involved in the punitive raid in the south-east of the country. A few hours after the statement had been released, Ukrainian media reported that federalization supporters regained control of the City Council building.