Russia to hold new military exercises in southwest [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By YURAS KARMANAU

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) - Russia's defense minister on Thursday announced new military exercises along the Ukrainian border just hours after Ukrainian troops killed at least two pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

The clashes were the first since acting President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the resumption Tuesday of military operations in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia protesters and masked gunmen have seized government buildings in at least 10 cities and set up roadblocks.

In St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what he described as Ukraine's "punitive operation" and threatened Kiev with unspecified consequences.

"If the Kiev government is using the army against its own people this is clearly a grave crime," Putin said.

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Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140424/DADCH7E02.html

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Black smoke billows from burning tires at a checkpoint following an attack by Ukrainian troops outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Ukrainian government troops moved against pro-Russia forces in the east of the country on Thursday and killed at least two of them in clashes at checkpoints manned by the insurgents, the government and insurgents said. Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what he described as a "punitive operation." (AP Photo/Mika Velikovskiy)