Russian Defence Minister says Moscow has sped up its advance in northeast Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov attends a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission in Saint Petersburg, Russia September 19, 2024. Sputnik/Valery Sharifulin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said on Friday that Russian forces had accelerated their advance in the north-east of Ukraine and had ground down the Ukrainian army's best units there.

Belousov was shown in a Defence Ministry video visiting a Russian command post in Ukraine manned by the Russian army grouping "North" where he handed out medals for bravery.