REUTERS

Members of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") in eastern Ukraine have created its own "flotilla" of about 20-25 fishing boats, which control the coastline near the town of Novoazovsk on the Sea of Azov in Donetsk region.

"The 'DPR' has created a mythical 'flotilla' out of fishing boats there. There are about 20-25 speedboats," Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Ihor Voronchenko told DW's Ukrainian Service.

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"On their side, in the Mariupol sector, a certain 9th 'Marine Regiment' is being stationed," he said.

Voronchenko says that the invaders call their 'flotilla' a "Marine Assault Regiment."

"For 10 months of that 'marine' unit's stationing, the balance of forces was in our favor. There were no direct clashes at sea," he added.