Militias deny army gains in east Ukraine
MOSCOW. July 30 (Interfax) - Militias in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said they are in control of several Donbas cities, including Shakhtarsk, Snizhne and Horlivka.
"Contrary to claims by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the cities of Shakhtarsk, Torez, Snizhne, Pervomaisk, Ilovaisk and Horlivka are controlled by the militia," the DPR wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
"Contrary to the claims by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry about the retaking of the cities of Avdiyvka, Novyi Svit, fighting continues there," the militia also said.
A spokesperson for the military operation in east Ukraine said earlier on Wednesday that the city of Avdiyivka located ten kilometers from Donetsk airport was freed. He also announced the launch of the "purge" in the city of Ilovaisk, Donetsk region, and an operation to free the city of Pervomaisk in the Luhansk region.
