Dozens of armed separatists from the Donetsk-based, pro-Russia Vostok Battalion reportedly took control of the headquarters of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic on May 29. Members of the Vostok Battalion evacuated the headquarters, set up a security perimeter and began removing the barricades that had surrounded the building for weeks. The group's motive remains unclear, with conflicting reports emerging. Some say the Vostok Battalion was opposed to the looting that took place in the region earlier this week, while other reports call the operation a potential coup.

Over the past few weeks, the Vostok Battalion has emerged as one of several armed groups in the Donetsk region. Its members generally carry AK-74s and have access to trucks and at least one armored personnel carrier. The group's leadership structure and size are unknown, but it is estimated to have a few hundred members. There are reports that it may include some Chechen fighters, and there are also some unconfirmed reports that it has ties to eastern Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. The murkiness surrounding the group's membership, ideology, motives and potential supporters highlights the increasingly chaotic situation in Donetsk and suggests that the Russian government may not have direct control of rival armed groups.

While the Donetsk People's Republic has repeatedly called for the Kremlin to aid its cause, Russia has been publicly distancing itself from any involvement in the republic's decision-making. Although the Vostok Battalion and Donetsk People's Republic are pro-Russian, leaders from the Donetsk People's Republic said they were unaware of the Vostok Battalion's reason for taking over their headquarters. While Russia is likely aiding separatist groups in Ukraine, the potential rivalries and emerging struggles among pro-Russia groups indicate that the Kremlin does not have a direct hand in their daily operations and strategies and thus cannot fully control all their decisions. Russia still has significant influence over separatists in eastern Ukraine, however, and as Russia's negotiations with Ukraine and the European Union progress, the Kremlin's lack of direct control may present a challenge for Russia if it ultimately decides to comply with the West's demands to de-escalate in eastern Ukraine.