KYIV, July 25 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian military on Tuesday reported making small advances against Russian forces in parts of southern Ukraine and south of Bakhmut in the east.
Progress has been slower than widely expected, but Ukraine has said it is trying to minimise casualties as its forces face fortified Russian defensive lines strewn with landmines.
The Ukrainian troops were reinforcing the positions they had taken, and Russian forces were mounting strong resistance, he said.
In the east, he said, Ukrainian troops had driven Russian units from positions near the village of Andriivka southwest of the largely destroyed city of Bakhmut which Russian forces captured in May.
Ukrainian forces were also conducting offensive operations north and south of Bakhmut, he said.
Persons:
Andriy Kovaliov, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy
Organizations:
Ukrainian, Russian, Armed, General Staff, Reuters, Timothy Heritage, Thomson
Locations:
Ukraine, Bakhmut, Kyiv, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Staromayorske, Donetsk, Andriivka