Pro-Russian separatists paraded captured Ukrainian soldiers through the streets of Donetsk on Sunday to mock the national army, reports said.

Thousands of onlookers gathered in Donetsk, the rebel stronghold, Main Square to watch the forced-marched of dozens of captive soldiers, who wore military garb and ripped civilian garments, while rebels pointed bayoneted rifles at the soldiers.

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Some sources said bystanders shouted obscenities and threw garbage, eggs, empty water bottles and tomatoes at the Kiev’s soldiers.

The display occurred after President Petro Poroshenko announced to re-equip its armies to fight the rebels as it marked Ukraine’s 23rd anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union, some reports confirmed.

Rebel commander Alexander Zakharchenko delivered a sarcastic message to the Ukrainian government after it said Kiev would have a parade on Ukraine's Independence Day. Indeed, Kiev’s forces did march in Donetsk just what Poroshenko had planned.

Human Rights Watch slammed the provocation of the rebels quoting the forced-marched of soldiers was a humiliating and degrading treatment of the prisoners, some sources confirmed.

In Maidan, the iconic independence Square in Kiev, President Petro Poroshenko condemned Russian aggression and declared that he was convinced that the battle for Ukraine for independence will be on their success.

President Poroshenko also addressed a highly militarized independence rally and vowed to safeguard Ukraine's borders with Russia by raising US$3 billion military investments.

According to reports, Ukrainian military leaders pleaded for additional resources as they battle against the separatists.

TagsPresident Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine, Rebels, Ukrainian government, Independence Day