Russia said it launched military exercises along the Ukrainian border on April 24 after Ukrainian forces killed pro-Russian militants and overran three roadblocks outside the eastern city of Slovyansk, in part of a renewed military operation to regain control. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said exercises involving land and air forces along the border had already begun. Russia has had tens of thousands of troops massed along the border since last month and has threatened to intervene in Ukraine's eastern region if it felt ethnic Russians there were under threat.
Wall Street Journal: Russia launches military exercises at Ukraine border
A pro-Russian militant poses with a young girl outside an occupied government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk
