KYIV, June 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces are reinforcing positions they have reached in areas of the southern front line after having "partial success" fighting Russian forces, a military spokesperson said on Wednesday. Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in the direction of the Russian-occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk in the Zaporizhzhia region, General Staff spokesperson Andriy Kovalev said, listing names of southeastern villages. "They had partial success in the directions of Novodanilivka - Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka - Verbove, Vilne Pole - Makarivka, they are consolidating at the achieved boundaries," he was quoted as saying by the Ukraine Military Media Center. Ukraine is also fighting to hold back an advance of Russian troops in the east, with "especially heavy fighting" taking place along near Lyman in the Donetsk region, he said. Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Andriy Kovalev, Mala, Tom Balmforth, Timothy Organizations: General, Ukraine Military Media Center, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russian, Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Lyman, Donetsk