KIEV, April 17, /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine's military command which is conducting an operation in southern regions of the country is withdrawing 15 armored personnel carriers from the town of Kramatorsk (Donetsk region) to the Dnepropetrovsk region.

Fifteen armored vehicles blocked by protesters near the village of Pchelkino in south of Kramatorsk are returning today to the places of permanent deployment in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

Taking part in the talks with protesters over unblocking the equipment was commander of Ukraine's airborne troops Colonel Alexander Shvets.

The parties negotiated that the withdrawing servicemen would keep their weapons and equipment. During the blockade, no clashes with local residents were reported.