The major part of the population of Donbas does no support separatist moods and it is waiting for prompter actions by the authorities, expecting the state to take a principled position, and to take concrete steps to protect them, Chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine Mykhailo Volynets said in Kyiv last week.

"On the one hand, people who are living there support the state system, and on the other hand, they want to hear guarantees from the central powers that they will be protected. We know that the major part of the population does not support separatist moods, but this major part has doubts. We should give a clear signal to them that we're with them. Separatists are doing everything for the population to say that Ukraine did not protect them [so that they] appeal to Putin," he said.

Volynets said that he receives calls with complaints that separatists are putting pressure on directors of coal companies, miners, directors of schools, teachers and doctors.

Miners Oleksandr Vovk and Oleksandr Hurov who were released from captivity said that miners in Donbas do not support the holding of a referendum regarding federalization, as they understand that Russia does not support the coal sector, and miners will become a cheap workforce, practically slaves.

The miners said that policemen with "Grifon" chevrons on their uniform were among the persons who beat them, as well as persons of Chechen and Slavic nationalities.

They said that at some medical institutions in Donbas, in particular, at Donetsk regional department of traumatic injuries, doctors wear St. George ribbons and deliberately do not report fractures and other injuries during examinations of activists supporting the unity of Ukraine.