Ukraine holds major military exercises on Azov Sea shore

KIEV, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A major military exercise was held at a military facility of the Ukrainian army located on the Azov Sea shore in the southeast of Ukraine, the country's Defence Ministry said Friday in a statement.

According to the statement, the combined tactical and special drills, which were the largest military training of the Ukrainian army so far this year, were held due to the situation in eastern Ukraine, where armed conflict is underway since April 2014.

The exercises involved more than 500 military troops and about 200 units of equipment, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and airborne assault vehicles. The Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters were also mobilized.

In April 2014, the Ukrainian government started a military operation against armed groups, who seized cities and towns in eastern Ukraine and declared independence from Kiev.

The confrontation has snowballed into the violent conflict, which has killed more than 10,000 civilians and combatants and left about 24,000 injured. Enditem