LPR troops with Russia's fire support advance 56 km, expanding offensive - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - A taskforce of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) troops with the Russian Armed Forces' fire support has advanced 56 kilometers and is rapidly expanding its offensive, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Sunday.

"Units of the Donetsk People's Republic Armed Forces have advanced another three kilometers toward Petrovske and are completing the defeat of the East operational and tactical group's reserves. Control over the settlements of Anadol and Andriyivka has been gained," Konashenkov said.

"The taskforce of troops of the Luhansk People's Republic with the fire support of the Russian Armed Forces has advanced 56 kilometers and is rapidly expanding its offensive," he said.

"In Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, nationalists, acting as retreat-blocking detachments, under the threat of executing their commanders, are trying to stop retreating units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to force them to continue resistance," Konashenkov also said.

"Four Ukrainian Armed Forces officers were killed by retreat-blocking detachments of the nationalists," Konashenkov said.

Refugees are arriving from the LPR territories occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he said.

"At the moment more than 300 families have already arrived in Luhansk and are being provided with all necessary assistance," Konashenkov said.