DPR forces claim to have taken control of Staromaryivka

DONETSK. Feb 28 (Interfax) - The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) forces have taken control of the village of Staromaryivka, bringing the number of populated areas controlled earlier by Ukrainian forces and now retaken by the DPR to 19, the DPR territorial defense headquarters said.

"Nineteen populated areas controlled earlier by the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been liberated. These are Pavlopil, Pyshchevyk, Viktorivka, Bohdanivka, Novohnativka, Mykolayivka, Rybynske, Trudivske, Vasylivka, Prokhorivka, Starohnativka, Svobodne, Donske, Anadol, Andriyivka, Hranitne, Hnutove, Buhas, and Staromaryivka," the headquarters said in a statement on Monday.

Fighting for Talakivka, Kamyanka, and Volnovakha is currently underway, it said.