In pictures: Tensions rise in Ukraine's eastPublished16 April 2014Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Ukrainian troops moved towards the centre of Kramatorsk after securing an airbase on the outskirts of the town on Tuesday - but they were soon stopped in their tracksImage source, ReutersImage caption, BBC journalists witnessed crowds of people, at least some of whom appeared to be local residents, challenging the Ukrainian soldiers a few kilometres outside the townImage source, APImage caption, Olga Ivshina from the BBC's Russian Service was in Kramatorsk and said many angry locals were accusing the Ukrainian troops of "acting against their own people"Image source, ReutersImage caption, A Ukrainian fighter jet flew low over one of the convoys that had been forced to stop. Some of the soldiers told locals: "We didn't come here to fight"Image source, APImage caption, Armoured vehicles flying a Russian flag were seen in Kramatorsk amid reports that some Ukrainian troops may have abandoned their vehicles or even changed sidesImage source, ReutersImage caption, Crowds of pro-Russians gathered in Sloviansk as some of the armoured vehicles reportedly seized from Ukrainian troops arrived in the cityImage source, APImage caption, Masked gunmen pushed a photojournalist away from the armoured vehicles as residents of Sloviansk presented flowers to the pro-Russian forceImage source, ReutersImage caption, A Ukrainian fighter jet circled over Sloviansk on Wednesday in a show of military might but there was no sign of Ukrainian troops inside the cityImage source, APImage caption, Meanwhile in Donetsk, members of the Oplot group, who supported ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych, met no resistance as they took over the mayor's officeImage source, ReutersImage caption, The group set up barricades around the city council building and demanded that authorities in Kiev grant a referendum on the region's future