Ukrainian army advancing 'gradually' on war's grinding southern front
Ukrainian army advancing 'gradually' on war's grinding southern front

"We advance gradually, thicket by thicket" says 'Poltava', the deputy commander of Ukraine's first battalion.

He's sitting in a shelter in the country's southeast, where Ukraine's army has come up against heavily armed and fortified Russian positions.

Even small advances come at a high price on a front line that has ground to a near halt.

"Moving by day means death" explains Igor Korol, the battalion's commander.

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