Donetsk People's Republic militia gains control over village on border with Russia

DONETSK, July 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Militiamen of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have taken under control the village of Marinivka (Donetsk region), the Novorossiya news agency said on Wednesday.

“[DPR] militiamen have taken Marinivka, [Ukrainian] servicemen engaged in the punitive operation are completely entrapped, as the southern mousetrap has been slammed,” the DPR press service said.

“Ukrainian servicemen have only one chance to stay alive — to surrender to the militia or to get interned in Russia,” it said.

“Militiamen have been advancing their attacks in other sections of the southern front,” the news agency said. “The junta convoys have been shelled from artillery weapons and the Grad multiple missile launchers.”

Earlier on Wednesday the press service of the DPR told ITAR-TASS that its militiamen had divided the Ukrainian military units into “several sectors” in the areas of the Amvrosievka, Izvarino and Saur-Mohila localities near the Russian border.

The Ukrainian military units attempted to form a convoy and head for the port city of Mariupol, but failed as the DPR fighters encircled them.

In recent days the Ukrainian armed forces had suffered serious losses, and support to their rear services had been axed, the press service said adding that the army units were trying to retreat covering their rear.