Donetsk, May 11 - DAN. Residents of Kiev-controlled areas of Donetsk Region joined the Republic Day march in Donetsk on Thursday.
These people took part in the Donbass independence referendum three years ago. Holding DPR flags like other marchers, some 300 residents of Kev-held Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka, Krasniy Liman and Mariupol walked along the central Donetsk Street.
No more details about the guests from beyond the contact line is available for security reasons.
Some marchers talked with DAN remembering the past events and the choice they made three years ago which they believe was right.
“Three years on, it feels like yesterday: rallies, queues to vote at the referendum and its success,” Donetsk metallurgy worker Yuri Kalinovets said. “I have no regrets.”
“It’s very unpleasant to see what is happening in Ukraine. It’s the third time I take part in this holiday and each year I feel proud of being a resident of our Republic,” Donetsk Kuibyshev District schoolteacher Elena Shevchenko said.
The Thursday march brought together 50,000 people. They walked along Donetsk’s central Artyoma Street to the Olimpiiskiy Sport Centre where Russian celebrity performers will give a concert.*jk