In photos: Ukrainian forces move in on Slavyansk
Dozens of soldiers in camouflage uniform, some wearing airborne patches, were setting up sandbag defences around at least six BMD light-armoured vehicles and putting up a tent near a settlement called Malynivka, some 12 kilometres south of Slavyansk on the main road to the regional capital, Donetsk.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk on April 24, 2014.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
Ukrainian security force officers walk past a checkpoint near Slavyansk, which has been a stronghold of pro-Russian separatists that have seized several government buildings and police stations in eastern Ukraine.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
Dozens of soldiers in camouflage uniform, some wearing airborne patches, were setting up sandbag defences around at least six BMD light-armoured vehicles and putting up a tent near a settlement called Malynivka, some 12 kilometres south of Slavyansk on the main road to the regional capital, Donetsk.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slavyansk on April 24, 2014.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A Ukrainian security force officer stops a local resident at a checkpoint.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A group of journalists look at burning tires at a checkpoint following an attack by Ukrainian troops outside Slovyansk on April 24, 2014.MIKA VELIKOVSKIY/The Associated Press
A Slavyansk area resident smokes a cigarette at a checkpoint.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists is seen near Slavyansk on April 24, 2014.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A pro-Russian armed man stands guard near the mayor's office in Slavyansk on April 24, 2014. As Ukrainian forces launched their offensive, Slavyansk separatist mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov was quoted by local online site slavgorod.com.ua saying: “If they break into the city, we are ready for them.” His men have machine guns, grenade-launchers and at least one self-propelled artillery gun.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slavyansk, on April 24, 2014.MARKO DJURICA/Reuters
A pro-Russian man squats at a checkpoint that was left by Ukrainian security force officers near Slavyansk on April 24, 2014.GLEB GARANICH/Reuters