Photo from UNIAN
The Ukrainian SBU Security Service says that the two men who have recently been detained at the administrative border between mainland Ukraine and Russia-occupied Crimea are defectors who chose to serve in the Russian army after the occupation, according to Russian-registered news portal Mediazona.
"The two deserters have not been abducted – they have been arrested while crossing the Chonhar checkpoint at the border," SBU spokesperson Olena Gitlianska told Mediazona.
"These are two Ukrainian soldiers who violated an oath of allegiance and started to serve in the Russian Federation's army in occupied territory of Crimea. When they arrived in Ukrainian territory across Chonhar, they were apprehended as criminal proceedings had been opened against them," she said.
Read alsoRussia claims another two Ukraine "saboteurs" in occupied Crimea detainedIn her words, criminal cases have been opened against all army deserters who have betrayed Ukraine.
Russian media earlier reported that Russia's Defense Ministry had accused Ukrainian special services of allegedly illegal detention and abduction of two Russian servicemen in Crimea.