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| Ukraine Says It Has Captured 2 Russian Soldiers | Ukraine Says It Has Captured 2 Russian Soldiers |
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| MOSCOW — The Ukrainian government said on Monday that it had captured two wounded Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine and would prosecute them on terrorism charges, prompting a spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin to repeat the Kremlin’s longstanding denial that any Russian troops had been deployed across the border. | MOSCOW — The Ukrainian government said on Monday that it had captured two wounded Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine and would prosecute them on terrorism charges, prompting a spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin to repeat the Kremlin’s longstanding denial that any Russian troops had been deployed across the border. |
| The soldiers were identified by Gen. Viktor Muzhenko, the chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov of the Third Special Forces Brigade, which is based in Togliatti, a city in southern Russia. | The soldiers were identified by Gen. Viktor Muzhenko, the chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov of the Third Special Forces Brigade, which is based in Togliatti, a city in southern Russia. |
| Russia’s denials that its active duty soldiers have been fighting in eastern Ukraine have continued despite substantial evidence to the contrary, including the funerals of young Russian soldiers killed in action. The Kremlin has acknowledged that some Russians have participated in the fighting, but says that they are volunteers who often choose to fight during their vacations. | Russia’s denials that its active duty soldiers have been fighting in eastern Ukraine have continued despite substantial evidence to the contrary, including the funerals of young Russian soldiers killed in action. The Kremlin has acknowledged that some Russians have participated in the fighting, but says that they are volunteers who often choose to fight during their vacations. |
| “Despite allegations and despite official statements of the Russian Federation about the absence of the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, we are ready to present evidence of the opposite,” General Muzhenko said in a televised news conference in Kiev, the capital. “We know their names, their military ranks, as well as their military stations.” | “Despite allegations and despite official statements of the Russian Federation about the absence of the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, we are ready to present evidence of the opposite,” General Muzhenko said in a televised news conference in Kiev, the capital. “We know their names, their military ranks, as well as their military stations.” |
| General Muzhenko and other Ukrainian military officials said the Russians had been captured after a clash between their unit and Ukrainian forces near the city of Shchastya, about 15 miles north of the regional capital of Luhansk, which is a stronghold of pro-Russian separatists. | General Muzhenko and other Ukrainian military officials said the Russians had been captured after a clash between their unit and Ukrainian forces near the city of Shchastya, about 15 miles north of the regional capital of Luhansk, which is a stronghold of pro-Russian separatists. |
| Viktor Nikolyuk, the commander of Ukrainian forces involved in the fight, said one of his soldiers had been killed and another wounded. He said that the two captives were from a reconnaissance unit that included 14 other Russian soldiers, and that they had been provided with medical treatment immediately after being taken prisoner. | Viktor Nikolyuk, the commander of Ukrainian forces involved in the fight, said one of his soldiers had been killed and another wounded. He said that the two captives were from a reconnaissance unit that included 14 other Russian soldiers, and that they had been provided with medical treatment immediately after being taken prisoner. |
| In a video posted to YouTube by Anton Gerashchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Sergeant Aleksandrov identifies himself as a member of the Russian special forces unit and Captain Yerofeyev as his commander. He said he had been serving in eastern Ukraine since May 6. | In a video posted to YouTube by Anton Gerashchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Sergeant Aleksandrov identifies himself as a member of the Russian special forces unit and Captain Yerofeyev as his commander. He said he had been serving in eastern Ukraine since May 6. |
| Victoria J. Nuland, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, who was visiting Moscow on Monday for meetings with Russian officials about efforts to fulfill a cease-fire agreement in Ukraine, said she had received assurances from the Ukrainian government that the two captives were being treated well. | |
| Ukrainian officials said they would be prosecuted on terrorism charges and face sentences of up to life in prison. | Ukrainian officials said they would be prosecuted on terrorism charges and face sentences of up to life in prison. |
| At a news conference on Monday, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, initially said the questions about the two captured soldiers should be directed at the Defense Ministry, not the Putin administration. | |
| “Of course, I cannot confirm it, because we are not whom the question should be addressed to,” Mr. Peskov said, when asked if the two men were indeed Russian military personnel. “We and the Defense Ministry on many occasions have said that there were not any Russian military in Donbas,” he said, referring to the embattled Donets River basin. | “Of course, I cannot confirm it, because we are not whom the question should be addressed to,” Mr. Peskov said, when asked if the two men were indeed Russian military personnel. “We and the Defense Ministry on many occasions have said that there were not any Russian military in Donbas,” he said, referring to the embattled Donets River basin. |
| He suggested that “specialists” in the Defense Ministry were better positioned to answer. When a reporter noted that Mr. Putin was also commander in chief of the Russian military, Mr. Peskov replied: “I understand, but anyway in this case, it is not us who the question should be addressed to. I repeat one more time: The main thing, actually the basis of what can be answered, is that there were and there are no military men there.” | He suggested that “specialists” in the Defense Ministry were better positioned to answer. When a reporter noted that Mr. Putin was also commander in chief of the Russian military, Mr. Peskov replied: “I understand, but anyway in this case, it is not us who the question should be addressed to. I repeat one more time: The main thing, actually the basis of what can be answered, is that there were and there are no military men there.” |
| Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, beginning with the annexation of Crimea, and continuing in the east with supplies of fighters, weapons and training for separatist forces, has brought relations between Russia and the West to one of their lowest points since the Cold War, and prompted the United States and its allies to impose economic sanctions against a number of Mr. Putin’s closest confidantes. | Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, beginning with the annexation of Crimea, and continuing in the east with supplies of fighters, weapons and training for separatist forces, has brought relations between Russia and the West to one of their lowest points since the Cold War, and prompted the United States and its allies to impose economic sanctions against a number of Mr. Putin’s closest confidantes. |
| A cease-fire agreement reached in February has substantially reduced the fighting, but there are constant violations. Kiev has complained repeatedly that the border with Russia remains open, and that Russia continues to supply weapons and training to the separatist forces. | A cease-fire agreement reached in February has substantially reduced the fighting, but there are constant violations. Kiev has complained repeatedly that the border with Russia remains open, and that Russia continues to supply weapons and training to the separatist forces. |