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HORLIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Russian insurgents are digging in across eastern Ukraine, fortifying their positions around seized buildings and erecting fresh barricades even as Ukrainian tanks take up positions outside the eastern city of Slovyansk.
In Kiev, Ukraine's acting president announced an "anti-terrorist operation" to root out the separatists today, but it's unclear how that measure differs from the one announced yesterday. That resulted in no visible action.
Slovyansk is located 100 miles from the Russian border. Pro-Russian gunmen took it over on Saturday and have been securing their control since.
The city appears calms despite mounting fears of a possible assault by Ukrainian troops. An Associated Press reporter today spotted at least 14 armored personnel carriers with Ukrainian flags, one helicopter and military trucks stationed 24 miles north of the city. Other heavy military equipment appears to be parked in a nearby area that's off limits to journalists.
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118-c-09-(Maria Danilova, AP correspondent)-"pro-Moscow gunmen"-AP correspondent Maria Danilova reports Ukraine has sent tanks to the eastern part of the country to root out Russian separatists. (15 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *118 (04/15/14)££ 00:09 "pro-Moscow gunmen"
119-c-10-(Maria Danilova, AP correspondent)-"ties to Russia"-AP correspondent Maria Danilova reports the pro-Russian forces that have seized buildings in eastern Ukraine do not see themselves as terrorists. (15 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *119 (04/15/14)££ 00:10 "ties to Russia"
117-c-13-(Maria Danilova, AP correspondent)-"Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine"-AP correspondent Maria Danilova reports Ukraine's leader is pushing back against pro-Russian forces in the eastern part of the country. (15 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *117 (04/15/14)££ 00:13 "Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine"
APPHOTO MOSB103: Ukrainian Army troops receive munitions at a field on the outskirts of Izyum, Eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. An Associated Press reporter saw at least 14 armored personnel carriers with Ukrainian flags, one helicopter and military trucks parked 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the city on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (15 Apr 2014)
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APPHOTO XEL104: A man passes by the pro-Russian activist barricades at a regional administration building that they had seized earlier in Donetsk, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Several government buildings have fallen to mobs of Moscow loyalists in recent days as unrest spreads across the east of the country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (15 Apr 2014)
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APPHOTO XEL103: Women read banners as they pass the barricades of pro-Russian activists at a regional administration building that they had seized earlier in Donetsk, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Several government buildings have fallen to mobs of Moscow loyalists in recent days as unrest spreads across the east of the country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (15 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO XEL103 (04/15/14)££
APPHOTO XEL101: A masked pro-Russian activist guards a barricade at the regional administration building that they had seized earlier in Donetsk, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Several government buildings have fallen to mobs of pro-Moscow loyalists in recent days as unrest spreads across the east of the country. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (15 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO XEL101 (04/15/14)££
APPHOTO MOSB105: Ukrainian Army troops receive munitions at a field on the outskirts of Izyum, Eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. An Associated Press reporter saw at least 14 armored personnel carriers with Ukrainian flags, one helicopter and military trucks parked 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of the city on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (15 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO MOSB105 (04/15/14)££
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