Leaning against a park fence, Vasily Nikitin looks at the razor wire and armed men protecting the government offices of the fledgling state he says he now represents -- the Lugansk People's Republic.
"We've sent a letter to the United Nations to recognise us as an independent state," Nikitin, the republic's plaid-shirted spokesman told AFP.
"So far we haven't received an answer."
Along with its larger neighbour Donetsk, Ukraine's Lugansk region -- a mining area of some 2.2 million people on the border with Russia -- held a rebel referendum Sunday that separatists claim saw over 95 percent vote to split from Kiev in a poll rejected outright by the central government and the West.
Now both regions have declared themselves separate sovereign countries and set about formulating their own constitutions and governments.
Unlike the Donetsk republic though, Lugansk hasn't asked to become part of Russia.
- 'First steps' -
In its brief existence, the Lugansk republic has also already seen its self-proclaimed leader shot by and wounded by unknown gunmen.
"The process of founding the country is the hardest part. The republic is still pretty young -- only two days old -- so these are the first steps and it's complicated but everything will be fine no worries," Nikitin said.
Ukraine's government has dismissed this idea as ludicrous, painting the rebels as Moscow-backed gunmen who control only a handful of administrative buildings and have no chance of setting up a viable state.
Across the tree-lined square from the regional administration the separatists seized last month, local government employees continue work in another office block.
"Those people haven't been elected, they don't have any experience," says Nikolai Severin, the editor of one of the regional administration's newspapers.
"They take their own decisions -- on a flag, an anthem -- but everything is being run as it was before."
In reality though it already seems far from clear who is actually in charge.
The region's governor -- appointed not long ago by Kiev -- disappeared a few weeks ago after taking sick leave and his replacement fled the regional capital Lugansk for a town controlled by the Ukrainian army some 150 kilometres (95 miles) away.
On the streets, the police are almost nowhere to be seen and it is Kalashnikov-wielding rebels who control the checkpoints at the entrance to the city.
For those left behind the situation is dizzyingly unpredictable.
There is only an hour left before a supposed rebel ultimatum runs out for the regional council to recognise the Lugansk republic or be dissolved, but council spokeswoman Yelena Bugaets is staying calm.
In the event, reports emerge that the demand was a hoax.
"We don't control the people with the guns and for the time being they don't control us," said Bugaets.
Pointing to figures showing that the region receives far more from the central government than it pays in taxes, she says the notion of Lugansk being able to survive as an independent country is just "empty words".
At the same time, Kiev has failed miserably to react to the concerns of people in the east following the February ouster of president Viktor Yanukovych after months of protests, and constitutional changes giving the region greater autonomy are needed urgently.
- 'Who's in charge?' -
"The fact that a huge number of local inhabitants organised this referendum themselves and voted shows what the people want and the central authorities have to listen to that if they want to be considered legitimate here," she said.
Around Lugansk, confusion over the current situation seemed widespread.
"You can't understand who's in charge," says pensioner Lidia Petrova as she makes a round of cash machines trying to withdraw money.
"What this is for a republic, I don't know. At least there are still groceries in the shops."
If the Lugansk People's Republic does exist anywhere then it is probably in the modest tent camp outside the occupied national security agency building.
As a mattress aired on a children's climbing frame, a group of elderly women sat in the shade and chew on handfuls of pretzels.
"They say that our republic isn't legitimate but they only had one percent of the people with them when they took power," says Valentina.
"We had over one million people vote to set up our republic, so you tell me who is illegitimate."
Leaning in, factory worker Vasily Bondar agrees enthusiastically.
"They are the ones who are the self-declared authorities, we've already had our referendum and created our republic," he says.
"So long, lads," he smiles, addressing himself to the far-off authorities in Kiev.
"This train has already left the station."
Leaning against a park fence, Vasily Nikitin looks at the razor wire and armed men protecting the government offices of the fledgling state he says he now represents — the Lugansk People’s Republic.
“We’ve sent a letter to the United Nations to recognise us as an independent state,” Nikitin, the republic’s plaid-shirted spokesman told AFP.
“So far we haven’t received an answer.”
Along with its larger neighbour Donetsk, Ukraine’s Lugansk region — a mining area of some 2.2 million people on the border with Russia — held a rebel referendum Sunday that separatists claim saw over 95 percent vote to split from Kiev in a poll rejected outright by the central government and the West.
Now both regions have declared themselves separate sovereign countries and set about formulating their own constitutions and governments.
Unlike the Donetsk republic though, Lugansk hasn’t asked to become part of Russia.
– ‘First steps’ –
In its brief existence, the Lugansk republic has also already seen its self-proclaimed leader shot by and wounded by unknown gunmen.
“The process of founding the country is the hardest part. The republic is still pretty young — only two days old — so these are the first steps and it’s complicated but everything will be fine no worries,” Nikitin said.
Ukraine’s government has dismissed this idea as ludicrous, painting the rebels as Moscow-backed gunmen who control only a handful of administrative buildings and have no chance of setting up a viable state.
Across the tree-lined square from the regional administration the separatists seized last month, local government employees continue work in another office block.
“Those people haven’t been elected, they don’t have any experience,” says Nikolai Severin, the editor of one of the regional administration’s newspapers.
“They take their own decisions — on a flag, an anthem — but everything is being run as it was before.”
In reality though it already seems far from clear who is actually in charge.
The region’s governor — appointed not long ago by Kiev — disappeared a few weeks ago after taking sick leave and his replacement fled the regional capital Lugansk for a town controlled by the Ukrainian army some 150 kilometres (95 miles) away.
On the streets, the police are almost nowhere to be seen and it is Kalashnikov-wielding rebels who control the checkpoints at the entrance to the city.
For those left behind the situation is dizzyingly unpredictable.
There is only an hour left before a supposed rebel ultimatum runs out for the regional council to recognise the Lugansk republic or be dissolved, but council spokeswoman Yelena Bugaets is staying calm.
In the event, reports emerge that the demand was a hoax.
“We don’t control the people with the guns and for the time being they don’t control us,” said Bugaets.
Pointing to figures showing that the region receives far more from the central government than it pays in taxes, she says the notion of Lugansk being able to survive as an independent country is just “empty words”.
At the same time, Kiev has failed miserably to react to the concerns of people in the east following the February ouster of president Viktor Yanukovych after months of protests, and constitutional changes giving the region greater autonomy are needed urgently.
– ‘Who’s in charge?’ –
“The fact that a huge number of local inhabitants organised this referendum themselves and voted shows what the people want and the central authorities have to listen to that if they want to be considered legitimate here,” she said.
Around Lugansk, confusion over the current situation seemed widespread.
“You can’t understand who’s in charge,” says pensioner Lidia Petrova as she makes a round of cash machines trying to withdraw money.
“What this is for a republic, I don’t know. At least there are still groceries in the shops.”
If the Lugansk People’s Republic does exist anywhere then it is probably in the modest tent camp outside the occupied national security agency building.
As a mattress aired on a children’s climbing frame, a group of elderly women sat in the shade and chew on handfuls of pretzels.
“They say that our republic isn’t legitimate but they only had one percent of the people with them when they took power,” says Valentina.
“We had over one million people vote to set up our republic, so you tell me who is illegitimate.”
Leaning in, factory worker Vasily Bondar agrees enthusiastically.
“They are the ones who are the self-declared authorities, we’ve already had our referendum and created our republic,” he says.
“So long, lads,” he smiles, addressing himself to the far-off authorities in Kiev.
“This train has already left the station.”
