The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said that two deserters, who joined the Russian army after the illegal annexation of Crimea, were detained on the administrative border with the peninsula.
Speaking to Interfax-Ukraine, the SBU commented on the Russian Defence Ministry's report two Russian servicemen – warrant officer Maksim Odintsov [Maksym Odyntsov] and Sgt Aleksandr Baranov [Oleksandr Baranov] - were illegally detained by the Ukrainian special services and moved to mainland Ukraine.
"These were two former Ukrainian servicemen who breached oath and joined the Russian army after the illegal annexation of Crimea," the SBU said.