Denis Pushilin, who has been serving as the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, stated that the villages of Stary Krym, Sartana, Talakovka, and Gnutovo are set to come under the administrative oversight of Mariupol. The remark appeared in a telegraph channel when he shared the update with followers.
During a working visit to the southern part of the DPR, local residents reportedly asked Pushilin to transfer these settlements to Mariupol’s administrative reach, arguing that this arrangement would match the practical needs of the communities as they had been managed in the past.
Pushilin explained that after these areas were liberated, they were temporarily assigned to the Novoazovsky district to accelerate the reestablishment of daily life. He noted that this approach has yielded tangible benefits, including faster social support measures and the restoration of essential services, which helped stabilize the early post-liberation period.
The deputy head of the republic also remarked that Mariupol’s geographic proximity makes it a more convenient point of reference for residents of these four settlements. He indicated that a formal decree to implement the transfer is being prepared to reflect this preference and streamline administration for the people living there.
In May, statements from a high-ranking official in the Russian defense establishment announced progress in the confrontation over Mariupol, with claims that the city would remain under the control of the Russian armed forces. The same communications cycle noted that the port facilities in Mariupol had resumed operations since October, and ongoing reconstruction efforts were visible across the metropolis, including new residential buildings and modernization projects aimed at improving living conditions for residents.