Azov battalion and border guards repel attack on Mariupol

Militants tried to attack Mariupol from the direction of Novoazovsk.

Border guards and the battalion Azov repelled the attack. One border guard was killed, another one was wounded, UNIAN reports.

Mariupol residents are welcomed to join volunteer squads to defend the city. The battalion Azov fighters teach them weapon handling and tactics.

On August 27, Russian troops entered Ukraine and occupied Novoazovsk in the Donetsk region. The city was blocked by tanks. All people without local residence permits were taken in unknown direction for questionings to figure out the purposes of their staying in the city.

Russian troops entrenched themselves on the city outskirts. A flag of the DNR group was raised in the centre of Novoazovsk instead of the Ukrainian one.

The city is situated 15 kilometres from the Russian border and 44 kilometres east of Mariupol, which has been under control of Ukrainian forces since June. This part of the Donetsk region was earlier considered to be calm.

Soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Mariupol residents continue to strengthen defensive positions in the city to prevent Russian troops and militant groups from entering the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.