MOSCOW, July 26 (RIA Novosti) – Militia forces have managed to take control of the Ukrainian checkpoint Marinivka in Donetsk region, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) said Saturday on Twitter.
"DNR army divisions have fought their way to the state border with the Russian Federation, and took control of the Marinivka checkpoint," the statement said.
On Friday, it was reported that intense shooting and cannonade had been heard in that area. Several shells exploded near a Russian checkpoint – in the field and by the road linking the customs post with the Primiussky village.
Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that the Russian territory had been shelled by Ukrainian forces nine times already. As a result of one of the attacks, a Russian citizen was killed in the city of Donetsk, Rostov region. Russian Foreign Ministry declared a protest to Ukraine in connection with these attacks and demanded to cease such hostilities. At the same time, the United States claim that they have certain information regarding Russia’s alleged artillery attacks against Ukraine, but no evidence has been presented so far.
Clashes between Donbas independence supporters and Kiev security forces have been ongoing in the country’s east for three months already. Ukraine's Donetsk, with the population of 900,000, is a major city in the zone of military actions.
