Russia orders exercises after Ukraine moves on separatists

Russia has ordered new military exercises on its border with Ukraine in response to an operation by Kiev against pro-Russian separatists.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had been "forced to react" after Ukrainian commandos moved on the separatist stronghold of Sloviansk. President Vladimir Putin had earlier warned Ukraine of "consequences". Pro-Russian separatists are occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern towns, defying the central government. Mr Shoigu was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying: "If this military machine is not stopped, it will lead to greater numbers of dead and wounded. "We are forced to react to such a development of the situation." The exercises will be in Russia's southern and western military districts, with Mr Shoigu adding that "the air force will conduct flights to train for manoeuvres along the state borders". Politician's funeral At least two pro-Russian separatists were earlier reported killed as Ukrainian commandos, backed by armoured vehicles, cleared checkpoints on the outskirts of Sloviansk. There was also unrest in the south-eastern city of Mariupol. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said government forces had ousted pro-Russian militants from the city hall building there.

However, the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Mariupol says that although it appears the mayor and an armed contingent did enter early in the morning there is no sign of Ukrainian troops now.

She says pro-Russian activists plan to re-enter once the building has been checked for mines. Some reports say the Ukrainian armoured vehicles and troops in the Sloviansk operation have now pulled back. BBC correspondents visited one checkpoint, south of a village called Makatikha, and reported seeing smoking tyres and broken sandbags. But they say there was no live fire and no sign of bodies. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Sloviansk, says the centre of the town appears calm, with people in the streets and the makeshift checkpoints set up by pro-Russian activists still in place. Speaking on Russian TV as news of the Sloviansk operation was coming in, Mr Putin said: "If the regime in Kiev has begun using the army against the population inside the country, then this is undoubtedly a very serious crime. "Of course, this will have consequences for the people who take such decisions, and this also affects our inter-state relations." Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has accused Russia of flouting a deal on Ukraine reached in Geneva last week, under which illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, would return home. Mr Obama told a news conference in Japan that Moscow had failed to halt actions by militants in the region and warned that the US had further sanctions against Russia "teed up". A contingent of US troops has begun landing in Poland for military exercises amid concerns among Nato's eastern member states about Russia's intentions. Mr Shoigu said on Thursday: "Planned exercises by Nato forces in Poland and the Baltic countries do not foster normalisation of the situation surrounding Ukraine." Separately, the funeral has been taking place in Horlivka for pro-Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Rybak, who was abducted and killed in Donetsk region. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who was earlier in Horlivka, said friends and relatives of Mr Rybak stood nearby listening to an Orthodox Christian priest chanting prayers amid a mood of shock and of deep pessimism for the future. Moscow has said it will respond to any attack on its interests in Ukraine, and has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border. Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.   Courtesy: BBC