(SLOVYANSK, Ukraine) — Ukrainian government troops moved against pro-Russia forces in the east of the country on Thursday and killed at least two of them in clashes at checkpoints manned by the insurgents, the government and insurgents said. Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what he described as a “punitive operation.” MoreMen Charged With Toppling Ancient Rock Formation Avoid Jail Time Huffington PostHere's An Updated Tally Of All The People Who Have Ever Died From A Marijuana Overdose Huffington PostStephen Fishbach's Survivor Blog: Trish Puts On a Show PeopleInside look: Here's how the 2014 NFL schedule was made Sports Illustrated'Arrow' boss talks 'Seeing Red' shocker Entertainment WeeklyThe fighting was the first since acting President Oleksandr Turchynov on Tuesday ordered the resumption of military operations in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia protesters and masked gunmen have seized government buildings and set up checkpoints on the roads. Popular Among Subscribers Barbara Brown Taylor Faces the Darkness Subscribe Shinzo Abe: The PatriotThe Blindness of BigotryPutin threatened Kiev with unspecified consequences.