Kyiv produces captured Russian soldiers, Moscow says they were decommissioned

Series Title
Series Details 20.05.15
Publication Date 20/05/2015
Content Type

On 19 May 2015, Ukrainian authorities decided to show off two purported Russian soldiers it had captured during a gun battle in the separatist east. Ukraine's pro-Western leadership considered this to prove Russia's direct involvement in the conflict.

Russia insisted that Captain Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sergeant Aleksander Aleksandrov had been decommissioned from the armed forces by the time Ukraine believed they entered the Ukrainian war zone.

In the meantime, Russia announced that firms from Cyprus, Greece and Hungary would be the first in line to restart food exports if political relations with the West improved. This had already been assumed in previous meetings between Russia and the authorities of these countries.

On 3 June 2015, it was reported that pro-Russian forces had tried to capture the Ukrainian town of Marinka, as a major attack on East Ukraine was launched only days before the G7 summit in Germany.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/kyiv-produces-captured-russian-soldiers-moscow-says-they-were-decommissioned
Related Links
ESO: Background information: US paratroopers' arrival in Ukraine raises heckles in Moscow http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-paratroopers-arrival-in-ukraine-raises-heckles-in-moscow/
ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/
The Independent, 20.05.15: Ukraine crisis: Regional chief claims four Ukrainian soldiers have been killed as fighting erupts again in the east of the country http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-regional-chief-claims-four-ukrainian-soldiers-have-been-killed-as-fighting-erupts-again-in-the-east-of-the-country-10262275.html
Deutsche Welle, 20.05.15: Ukraine shows off captured 'Russian soldiers' http://dw.de/p/1FSuo
The Guardian, 18.05.15: 'Russian soldiers' captured in Ukraine to face trial on terrorism charges http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/russian-soldiers-ukraine-trial-terrorism-charges
BBC News, 19.05.15: Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko talks of 'real war' with Russia http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32805555
EUObserver, 20.05.15: Russia to reward EU sanctions critics with food exports https://euobserver.com/foreign/128767
EurActiv, 29.05.15: Putin declares soldier deaths a state secret http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/putin-declares-soldier-deaths-state-secret-314954
EUObserver, 04.06.15: Russian forces try to capture Ukrainian town https://euobserver.com/foreign/128963

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