DONETSK, July 10. /ITAR-TASS/. The militia forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have forced the Ukrainian army to retreat 10km from the Karlivka settlement to Galitsinovka village after continuous fighting on the approaches to Donetsk, the DPR press service told ITAR-TASS on Thursday.

According to the press service, the Ukrainian troops have been trying to seize Karlivka from the militia units for more than a week. The residents of nearby villages could hear the cannonade the whole day on Thursday. The Ukrainian troops used heavy artillery guns against the militias.

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said earlier on Thursday that the Ukrainian army, the National Guard and territorial defense battalions had launched an offensive near the Karlivka village, 30km away from Donetsk.

According to the ministry, an offensive with the use of armored vehicles was underway in several sections of the front.