president putin responded to the fighting in sloyvyansk with a warning of consequences. barnaby phillips has followed the events on the ground in eastern ukraine. >> reporter: on the edge of sloyvyansk these pictures show ukraine's army doing something new, going on the offensive against pro-russian separatists. they advance and take over a roadblock that has been abandoned by the separatists. in the skies, ukrainian helicopters, but on the ground it's still the separatist gunmen very much in control and at least some residents seem grateful for their presence. >> translator: it's just not possible to live with this government that has passed these kinds of laws. i don't know. people say we don't love ukraine. my dear, everyone born here and who grew up here loves ukraine, but that doesn't mean you love the policies. >> reporter: the attack on sloyvyansk never comes, and by mid-afternoon pro-russians have taken back the checkpoints. so another day of hesitation and confusion, although the government in kiev continues to talk tough. >> translator: we demand that the russi