Russian forces have entered a suburb of the city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the RIA news agency cited an adviser to the Russian-appointed regional head as saying on Friday.

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Chasiv Yar, located about 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of Bakhmut, has served as an important staging point for Ukrainian troops in the area, and is now heavily fortified, according to RIA.