Donetsk, May 5 - DAN. The Donetsk People’s Republic has opened its first road police department in Mariupol, the DPR Interior Ministry press service reported on Thursday.

“In Mariupol, a road police department at 16 Makar Mazai Street has begun operation. It provides legal support to drivers, consults residents of liberated areas on vehicle operation and helps with car registration,” the Interior Ministry said.

The Mariupol road police department tasks include traffic safety in the city, assistance to drivers, accompanying humanitarian aid convoys and population outreach.

“In case of road accidents and the need for urgent help or other contingencies, drivers can use round-the-clock hotline 071-526-92-18,” police said.

Earlier reports said that DPR had opened police departments in city districts and suburbs.

Mariupol is the largest city on the Sea of Azov coast, a key Donbass metallurgy center and seaport. Clashes for Mariupol began on February 25; the city was fully blocked in the course of the fighting and then cleared of the invaders. At present, the surviving gunmen of the neo-Nazi “Azov” formation (the organization is banned in the DPR) are blocked in the Azovstal plant industrial zone. *jk