MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army is facing difficulties near Slavyansk in the Kiev-controlled part of the DPR and is trying to fortify this area, Vladimir Zelensky said after a meeting with Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Drapaty.

"Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mikhail Drapaty held a briefing," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He added that at this meeting they "particularly focused" on the situation around Slavyansk and Donbass in general. According to him, the Ukrainian military needs to do a better job protecting these parts.

In early July, Russian troops liberated the town of Konstantinovka in the DPR. At present, they are advancing in the direction of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, as well as in the Dobropolye direction.