DONETSK, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - The militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said they had taken captive 65 Ukrainian border control forces near the village of Ulyanivske and 24 servicemen near Petrivske on Wednesday.
"In the district of Ulyanivske, 65 officers of the Ukrainian border guard from the surrounded group surrendered. In the course of the fighting with militia at the village of Petrivske, 24 servicemen of the 93rd Brigade stopped resistance and surrendered," DPR said on its internet portal.
The independence supporters also destroyed five Grad BM-21 artillery rocket systems near Novoannovka and attacked a Ukrainian military convoy by Starobesheve.
Since mid-April the Ukrainian government has been conducting a military operation in the east of Ukraine, aimed to suppress independence supporters, who refused to acknowledge the new government that came to power after the February 22 coup.
According to the United Nations, more than two thousand people have died as a result of the confrontation, and over 4,950 people have sustained injuries in the fighting.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the operation and urged for a ceasefire to prevent further casualties.
