Mothers and wives of servicemen of the Fifth Prykarpattia territorial defense battalion blocked approaches to a bridge in the center of Ivano-Frankivsk at 1300 on Monday to demand rotation for the battalion personnel.

They used tires to block the road and only clear ambulance and emergency service vehicles, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

Women were holding posters, reading "Dear president, hear us!" "Rotation for the Fifth Battalion!" "Return sons to mothers, husbands to wives, fathers to children!" They were also holding national flags.

Ivano-Frankivsk regional military commissar Ihor Pavliuk and city military commissar Ihor Sorokopud regularly spoke with protesters.

The head of the regional council, Vasyl Srypnychuk, also met with them to hear their demands.

The women threatened to maintain the blockade until a rotation order is issued.

The road remained blocked as of 1830. Traffic was paralyzed in the city.

About 100 protesters were taking part in the rally.

The Prykarpattia battalion was sent to southeastern Ukraine on July 1.