俄罗斯在乌克兰边境附近展开军演

Russian officials say the military is beginning exercises Monday in the central and western regions of the country, which would include the Ukraine border region.

The officials say the drills involving more than 100 fighter jets and helicopters will last through Friday.

While the announcement did not mention Ukraine, the military exercises could increase tensions in the already volatile region.

On Sunday, deadly clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists continued as investigators searched the site of a plane crash for a third day.

Local officials in Donetsk say six people were killed there in shelling between the two sides.  Reuters news agency says three other people were killed in Luhansk.

Meanwhile, the remains of more victims from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 arrived in Kharkiv Sunday to be prepared for transportation to the Netherlands.

The head of the Dutch police mission working at the crash site says crews have finished searching one of five zones of the crash site.  He said completing the search will take at least three weeks