Ukrainian Forces Regain Control of Mariupol

Ukrainian forces have regained control of a government building in the eastern city of Mariupol.

The operation to drive out the pro-Russian demonstrators occupying the city hall building was staged overnight. They were successfully removed by government forces without any casualties or injuries, the BBC reports.

Last week, three pro-Russian separatists were killed in the city during what the government called an "anti-terrorist operation", sparking condemnation from Russia on the eve of the Geneva talks.

The acting Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov proclaimed on Thursday that the port city of Mariupol had been "liberated". Nonetheless, barricades remain around many government buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities.

Representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic, where Mariupol lies, claim they still have control of the city however.