Donetsk, May 4 – DAN. Russia-led coalition has taken 175 townships under control, the DPR Territorial Defence HQ said.

"As of May 4, the DPR forces with assistance of the Russian armed forces liberated and established total control over 175 towns," the report reads.

Among the recently liberated towns are Krasnaya Polyana and Novopetrivka (Velikonovosyolkovskiy district bordering the Zaporozhye region).

Mariupol has been taken under full operational control.

Earlier report filed on April 20 said that 167 townships and cities had been liberated from the occupying Ukrainian force.

Russia started a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decision was made after the DPR and LPR Heads addressed him asking for help.

The Russian leader said that Moscow is not planning to occupy Ukrainian territory, the only goal is to protect people who have been continuously shelled and subjected to other forms of genocide by Ukraine for eight years. *ot