(Refiles to clarify that speaker was spokesman for defence ministry of Ukraine)
(Reuters) - Russian forces are regrouping to resume their offensive in the direction of the Sloviansk region, while also seeking to encircle the city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine's defence ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Ukrainian forces, however, had some success in advancing towards the coastal areas where Russian forces took defensive positions, he added. (This story refiles to clarify that speaker was spokesman for defence ministry of Ukraine)
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, writing by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Gareth Jones)