MOSCOW, March 14./TASS/. People’s militias of the Donetsk People’s Republic have liberated 89 local settlements, DPR leader Denis Pushilin told the Rossiya-1 TV channel on Monday.

"As of now, 89 settlements have been liberated, the advance continues along the left bank - Mariupol neighborhoods. The settlements around are under the operational control of the DPR. Also, the headquarters is operating partially in the settlements, suburbs on practically all sides of Mariupol. Mine clearance is underway, electricity supply is restored there where it is necessary," Pushilin said.

The advance of the DPR military proceeds under the plan, the offensive continues north, towards Donetsk, DPR People's Militia deputy head Eduard Basurin said on the RBK TV channel.

"Everything goes according to the plan in this regard. The offensive operation is underway above Volnovakha, northwards towards Donetsk, we are mopping up our territory," Basurin went on to say.

On February 17, tensions escalated along the line of contact in Donbass. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics reported the most intense shelling by Ukraine in months. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. Moscow has no plans to occupy Ukrainian territories, he stressed.