Ukrainian military besiege Slavyansk

The Ukrainian military have besieged the Eastern Ukrainian town of Slavyansk, which is now controlled by pro-Russian militants. Yesterday Ukrainian servicemen destroyed a militant checkpoint in the settlement of Cherkasskoye on the outskirts of the town.

The military operation in Eastern Ukraine recommenced after the Ukrainian cabinet accused Russia of violating the Geneva agreement, according to which all militants should have surrendered in exchange for a mass amnesty.

Russia responded to the Ukrainian military operation in the region by starting large-scale war games near the Ukrainian border. The move drew the immediate attention of the EU, the US and Nato.