The Ukrainian flag was hoisted above the city council of Sloviansk on Saturday, the president's office has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Ukrainian Defense Minister Col. Gen. Valery Heletei and Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Viktor Muzhenko have reported to the president of Ukraine that the National Flag of Ukraine has been hoisted over the city council of Sloviansk," the office said.

"A mission for the provision of humanitarian relief to all those who need it is beginning work in Sloviansk," it said.

Heletei also said work was underway to relaunch social services and restore the police service in Sloviansk. "We have started to restore normal life in the city," he said.

Poroshenko "ordered that Ukrainian soldiers who had distinguished themselves in liberating the villages of Mykolayivka and Semenivka and the city of Sloviansk be put forward for decoration before the end of the day," the office said.

Heletei and Muzhenko also made a report to the president on "the status quo in the counterterrorist operation," it said.

"The president gave instructions to ensure maxim security for the population in the liberation of cities and villages."

In Mykolayivka, recaptured by government forces on Friday, "a provisional administration has taken office and a police chief has been appointed," the office said.