You're reading: Donetsk People’s Republic premier commits to controlling Mariupol, either peacefully or by force

NOVOAZOVSK - Self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko does not rule out the use of force to take control of Mariupol.

“We are negotiating the Mariupol issue. If they refuse to do so peacefully, we will take it by force,” he told Novoazovsk residents on Oct. 30.