The Ukrainian government says its forces have retaken two more eastern cities from pro-Russian activists, BBC News reported.

The website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the national flag was raised in Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. It comes a day after government forces regained control of the pro-Russian activists’ stronghold of Sloviansk.

Meanwhile, large crowds have attended a rally in the regional capital, Donetsk, in support of the pro-Russian activists. The activists have re-grouped in Donetsk and are reported to have attacked the state prison guard headquarters in an attempt to seize weapons.

According to BBC, Artemivsk and Druzhkivka are not considered as strategic as Sloviansk but re-taking them indicates momentum is currently with government forces.

Despite their recent losses, the pro-Russian activists still hold the regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk and other key areas.

However, senior Ukrainian security official Mykhaylo Koval said Luhansk and Donetsk would now be besieged until pro-Russian forces there surrendered.