ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: In what is likely to be seen as a show of force, Russian troops held military exercises in several regions near the Ukrainian border early on Thursday (March 13) amid heightened tension between Kiev and Moscow over Ukraine.<br/> <br />Russia's Defence Ministry said about 8,500 Russian troops were taking part in training drills near the border with Ukraine involving artillery and multiple rocket launchers.<br/> <br />A statement on the ministry's website confirmed that the exercises had begun at bases in the Southern Military District but did not say how long they would last.<br/> <br />In the early hours of Thursday, Russian troops took positions near the the port city of Rostov-on-Don, neighbouring Ukraine. They fired automatic riffles, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), Reuters video showed. Further training took place in Belgorod, Tambov and Kursk regions, the ministry said.<br/> <br />The exercises are likely to cause concern in Ukraine be
