You're reading: Reuters: Gunmen leave civilians to defend rebel stronghold in Ukraine

 Most mornings Alexandra, a painter and decorator in her late 20s, leaves her 10-year-old daughter at home, puts a starting pistol in her belt and walks to barricades in her hometown Slaviansk. She is one of several volunteers at checkpoints inside the rebel stronghold town in eastern Ukraine replacing gunmen in camouflage who have melted into the background since Kyiv stepped up what it describes as an anti-terrorist operation.

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