Ukraine crisis: 'Up to five' killed as rebel checkpoints seized
UP to five pro-Russian militants have been killed as Ukrainian forces seized rebel checkpoints, it has been reported.
OPERATION: There has been military action against the pro-Russian militants [AP]
Ukraine’s interior ministry said in a statement that an “antiterrorist operation” removed three illegal checkpoints that were manned by armed groups.
It added: “During the armed clash up to five terrorists were eliminated”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned there will be “consequences” as the military operation attempts to clear the eastern town of Slavyansk of roadblocks.
Putin said: "If Kiev really began to use the army against the country's population... that is a very serious crime against its own people.
"If these people have advanced to the so called "acute phase" (of confrontation with protesters), this is not an acute phase, it is just a punitive operation and it will of course incur consequences for the people making these decisions, including (an effect) on our interstate relations,' 
ACTION: Rebels had taken over about a dozen government buildings [AP] An agreement was signed by Russia, the US, the EU and Ukraine last week for the rebels to stand down.
But they refused, leading acting president Oleksandr Turchynov to order a resumption of military operations on Tuesday.
The operation involved five armoured personnel carriers which took over a checkpoint on a road north of the city after it was abandoned by separatists who set tyres alight to cover their retreat.
No shots were heard during that takeover but a separatist spokeswoman said that two fighters were killed in clash in the same area, near a road leading to the town of Sviatogorsk.
Armoured vehicles and a helicopter were used in the assault, with several personnel carriers driving past an abandoned rebel roadblock in flames to take up position at the entry to the town
Ukraine's government said it took back Sviatogorsk from gunmen on Wednesday as it relaunched an "anti-terrorist" operation to regain control of the Russian-speaking east. 
DANGEROUS: President Putin has warned of consequences after the action [AP] It had been unclear if Ukrainian troops were preparing to risk storming Slavyansk, a city of 130,000 that has been taken over by rebels seeking annexation by Russia.
For the past few weeks, they have held back from combat, saying they were concerned about civilian casualties – and about provoking reprisals from Russia.
It is feared Putin will use any military action as an excuse to invade eastern Ukraine.
Barack Obama has also warned that economic sanctions will be increased after he accused Moscow of failing to live-up to last week’s agreement.
But he said that this may not be enough to stop Putin’s alleged plans.
He said: “There are some things the United States can do alone but ultimately it's going to have to be a joint effort, a collective effort.”
OPERATION: There has been military action against the pro-Russian militants [AP] It added: “During the armed clash up to five terrorists were eliminated”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned there will be “consequences” as the military operation attempts to clear the eastern town of Slavyansk of roadblocks.
Putin said: "If Kiev really began to use the army against the country's population... that is a very serious crime against its own people.
"If these people have advanced to the so called "acute phase" (of confrontation with protesters), this is not an acute phase, it is just a punitive operation and it will of course incur consequences for the people making these decisions, including (an effect) on our interstate relations,'
ACTION: Rebels had taken over about a dozen government buildings [AP] But they refused, leading acting president Oleksandr Turchynov to order a resumption of military operations on Tuesday.
The operation involved five armoured personnel carriers which took over a checkpoint on a road north of the city after it was abandoned by separatists who set tyres alight to cover their retreat.
No shots were heard during that takeover but a separatist spokeswoman said that two fighters were killed in clash in the same area, near a road leading to the town of Sviatogorsk.
Armoured vehicles and a helicopter were used in the assault, with several personnel carriers driving past an abandoned rebel roadblock in flames to take up position at the entry to the town
Ukraine's government said it took back Sviatogorsk from gunmen on Wednesday as it relaunched an "anti-terrorist" operation to regain control of the Russian-speaking east.
DANGEROUS: President Putin has warned of consequences after the action [AP] For the past few weeks, they have held back from combat, saying they were concerned about civilian casualties – and about provoking reprisals from Russia.
It is feared Putin will use any military action as an excuse to invade eastern Ukraine.
Barack Obama has also warned that economic sanctions will be increased after he accused Moscow of failing to live-up to last week’s agreement.
But he said that this may not be enough to stop Putin’s alleged plans.
He said: “There are some things the United States can do alone but ultimately it's going to have to be a joint effort, a collective effort.”
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