10 Russian Troops Caught in Ukraine Before Peace Talks

Moscow calls it an accident, but Ukraine thinks otherwise
By Shelley Hazen,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 26, 2014 5:24 PM CDT
10 Russian Troops Caught in Ukraine Before Peace Talks
A group of Russian soldiers captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border "by accident", Russian military sources are quoted as saying. Ukraine said 10 paratroopers had been captured...   (WorldBreakingNewsChannel)

Ten Russian paratroopers have been captured by Ukraine after crossing the border during a patrol yesterday, the AP reports. Russia says they crossed by accident, but Ukraine isn't buying it. Regardless of who's right, the detention of the men raised tensions as talks got underway in Minsk between Vladimir Putin and Ukraine leader Petro Poroshenko, reports the New York Times. Some of the captured men appeared in videos posted on Facebook and said they were indeed sent into Ukraine. One even seemed to criticize their mission, stating "everything is different here, not like they show it on television. We've come as cannon fodder."

A Ukrainian military spokesman tells the BBC that this "wasn't a mistake, but a special mission they were carrying out." The capture may prove another snag in peace talks between the nations. On the heels of Friday's controversial Russian aid convoy, Ukraine says an armored line of Russian military tanks crossed into the country yesterday and battled with border guards. Also, pro-Russian separatists are accused of staging the public humiliation of Ukrainian POWs in a parade at bayonet point through Donetsk, apparently to prevent a peace agreement. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X