DPR head vows offensive up to borders of Donetsk region
DONETSK. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) militia is set to develop the offensive up to the administrative borders of the Donetsk region.
"We will carry on the offensive up to the borders of the Donetsk region and if I see a threat coming from other sides it [the threat] will be eliminated," DPR leader Alexander Zakharchenko told students in Donetsk.
The militia is currently advancing towards Mayorsk, he said. "We are also advancing towards Avdiivka and Ochertyno. The LPR has mounted an offensive as well," the DPR leader stated.
Zakharchenko refuted Ukrainian media reports alleging that the militia had launched an offensive towards Mariupol. "We have not attacked Mariupol because we need to seize Slovyansk first. The reason is water resources. Water is supplied by Ukraine to Mariupol via our territories and reaches here, and 90% of water resources in the Donetsk region are non-potable," Zakharchenko said.