KYIV/DONETSK. Feb 11 (Interfax) - The National Guard supported by Ukrainian Armed Forces units have broken through militia lines and taken control of a number of populated areas near Mariupol, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said in his report from the ground.
The Ukrainian army has taken control of Pavlopil, Kominternove, Lybidinske, Berdianske, Shyrokyne and some other towns.
The enemy "has suffered very serious losses," Turchynov said, adding that the Ukrainian army had taken Mariupol under protection and would shield it from artillery shelling.
The Azov regiment was a forward unit of the attacking Ukrainian force, he said.
In turn, Eduard Basurin of the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told reporters that the Ukrainian artillery shelled civilians in four populated areas during the army offensive towards Novoazovsk.
"The Ukrainian army shelled Sakhanka, Pavlopil, Kominternove and Shyrokyne. Dozens are dead and their precise number is unknown. The bodies have yet to be removed from under the debris," Basurin said.