Putin says Russia is advancing along entire front line in Ukraine despite Western desire to halt it

MOSCOW, Aug 1 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russian forces were advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine despite the West's desire to halt its offensive.

Putin, who was talking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said the Russian army had taken control of the town of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's Donetsk region a few days ago, a Russian claim which Kyiv has denied.