Russia claims Troops Are Making Progress In Ukraine
The Russian army has advanced a further 12 kilometres into eastern Ukraine and reached the border of the settlement of Nikolske near Mariupol, says Russian Ministry of Defence spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
In a post on Facebook, the Ukrainian general staff said that Russia is mobilising troops in the areas of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Prior to the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, the republics only covered a portion of the territory of the oblasts or administrative divisions, of Luhansk and Donetsk.