Ukraine: Russia has 48 hours to explain military drill

Ukraine says militants killed in 'anti-terror' operation

In an official statement Thursday Ukraine’s Interior Ministry claimed to have captured and destroyed three checkpoints outside the pro-Russian separatist stronghold of Slavyansk as part of its so-called "anti-terror" operation aimed at bringing the country’s restive east back under government control.

The ministry said five militants from pro-Moscow groups manning checkpoints outside the city had been killed in the operations, with one government officer injured in the operation.

The incidents reportedly occurred in the city’s northeast on roads leading to the nearby town of Krasny Liman, one of the first communities to fall to pro-Russia separatists just over two weeks ago.

Kiev also claims to have recaptured the city administration building in Mariupol, and cleared the town of Svyatogorsk -- near Slavyansk -- of separatist groups. 

The ministry statement said a clash erupted when about 30 people with bats entered the premises of Mariupol City Council at around 3 a.m. Ukraine local time on April 24, and demanded that the pro-Russian invaders vacate the town administration building they seized on April 13.

"Security forces immediately arrived at the scene. There are currently reports of about five people being injured during the scuffle. These citizens sought medical assistance," said the statement, according to Ukraine's Interfax news agency.

The government’s first attempt at launching operations against pro-Russia militants ground to an embarrassing halt last week after an armored column of Ukrainian paratroopers from Dnipropetrovsk surrendered to the rebels, while another group refused to engage the armed groups and returned to base in the neighboring region.

Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered a re-launch of Kiev’s anti-terror operations after pro-Ukrainian politician Vladimir Rybak was found dead on Saturday. 

Rybak’s corpse was pulled from a river outside Slavyansk on April 19 after disappearing two days before in another rebel stronghold Gorlovka, 90 kilometers away. 

According to police reports, he was tortured and stabbed before his body was tied to a sand bag and dumped in the river.

Rybak’s death coincided with an incident over the weekend that saw three pro-Russia militants killed in a shootout. 

Rebel groups claim three militants were killed by pro-Ukrainian paramilitary forces that were attempting to break through a checkpoint outside Slavyansk. 

Kiev and its Euromaidan supporters have denied any connection to the attacks.

The incidents appear to reinforce the growing sentiment that last week’s Geneva agreement aimed at de-escalating the Ukraine crisis has collapsed after Moscow and Washington have engaged in increasingly heated accusations that each side has violated the accords.

Ukrainian FM: Ukraine ready to fight Russia

Ukraine's interim Foreign Minister has stated his country is ready to fight Russian troops after Moscow announced it was carrying out military drills on the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian FM Andriy Deshchytisa commented on Russia’s statement on Thursday during his visit to the Czech Republic, saying that Russia planned military exercises were taking place closer than earlier planned.

He said the “Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army are ready to fight” if Russian troops "invade" the country,  adding that Ukraine had been taught a lesson by Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

He also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.

Russia ordered new military drills in its regions bordering Ukraine on Thursday in response to "unequal and unfair use of force by Ukrainians" in operations against pro-Russian separatists.

US journalist released by pro-Russia separatists

Simon Ostrovsky, a U.S. journalist working for Vice News, was freed Thursday after being held captive for two days by pro-Russian armed groups in eastern Ukraine. 

"Vice News is delighted to confirm that our colleague and friend Simon Ostrovsky has been safely released and is in good health," a statement posted on Vice News website said.

On Tuesday, Ostrovsky was held by separatist armed groups in the eastern town of Slavyansk along with one Belarusian and two Italian journalists, who were quickly released.

Russia orders military drills near Ukrainian border

Russia ordered new military drills in its regions bordering Ukraine on Thursday in response to "unequal and unfair use of force by Ukrainians" in operations against pro-Russian separatists.

"We are forced to react to such a situation," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

He said the number of Ukrainian troops stationed against the pro-Russians was significantly and unevenly high.

The move came after Ukraine increased its military presence in the pro-Russian separatist stronghold of Slavyansk as part of its so-called "anti-terror" operation aimed at bringing the country’s restive east back under government control.

Shoigu said more than 11,000 Ukrainian soldiers, 160 tanks, 230 infantry vehicles and at least 150 artillery pieces took part in operations in southeastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government’s first attempt at launching operations against pro-Russia militants ground to an embarrassing halt last week after an armored column of Ukrainian paratroopers from Dnipropetrovsk surrendered to the rebels, while another group refused to engage the armed groups and returned to base in the neighboring region.

Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered a re-launch of Kiev’s anti-terror operations after pro-Ukrainian politician Vladimir Rybak was found dead on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, during a TV address on Thursday, Turchynov called on Russia to pull back its troops from the border.

He said Ukraine would not yield to Russia-backed 'terrorists' and would continue to protect its people.

Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine announced that five militants from pro-Moscow groups manning checkpoints outside the city had been killed during the operations.

englishnews@aa.com.tr