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Russia is holding conspicuous military drills in the south of the country, not far from the Ukraine border. Russian officials say the four day exercises are designed to allow their pilots to practice their skills in new new fighter jets and bombers.

The exercises come amid a a continuing war of words over Russia's intentions in eastern Ukraine.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the West is wrong to blame Moscow for ongoing clashes between Ukranian government troops and Russian-backed separatist rebels.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING:

"If they want to blame us for everything that's happening, if they want to convene a forum where we're represented as the party that is to be blamed, it is totally wrong, it is a wrong thing to do. They should not think of satisfying their ideological interests, they should only think of settling the conflict in Ukraine."