Ukrainian police said that they had detained 'a major-general', who was in command of the Cossack regiment in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), at a roadblock near Volnovakha, Donbas.

"It was established that the active major-general from the DPR regional Cossack association faced law enforcers [...] Operatives and investigators of the Volnovakha police station are interrogating the main DPR Cossack," the press service of the Ukrainian National Police main department in Donetsk region reported on its official Facebook page on Monday evening.

During the detention the 66-year-old man had a certificate of the DPR ataman and a permit to carry Cossack weapons (sabers, a dagger and whips) on him.

The ataman said that he had taken command of a regiment, which comprised 90 Cossacks in 2011, the Cossacks joined DPR armed units in 2014, the Ukrainian police said.

The police did not reveal the name of the detainee, but said a criminal inquiry was launched on the count of assistance to members of criminal organizations and concealment of their criminal activity that involves a penalty of up to five years of imprisonment.