Ukrainian forces stop Russian advance towards Sloviansk - presidential aide

April 20 (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops have held up an advance by Russian forces from the northeastern city of Izyum towards nearby Sloviansk, Oleksiy Arestovych, a Ukrainian presidential advisor said on Wednesday.
"They have focused their forces there, that is where they are trying to advance, but so far they are not succeeding," he said in a video address.
Arestovych also said that Ukrainian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol have been holding out, despite persistent Russian attacks on the Azovstal steel plant.
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