Two Russian soldiers captured…

KYIV – Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported on May 18 that two Russian Special Forces soldiers were wounded and captured in a battle with Ukrainian forces near Shchastia, Luhansk Oblast. The detained soldiers are Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov, of the 3rd Brigade, Special Forces, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The detained soldiers were given medical treatment and are in a hospital in Kramatorsk, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported. According to statements they made, the two Russian soldiers entered Ukrainian territory in March, as part of a unit of their brigade, and were tasked with carrying out reconnaissance and sabotage against Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that once it was understood by Kremlin-backed terrorist forces that “that Russian special forces soldiers were captured, they opened fire with mortars […] The militants aimed at the place where the special forces soldiers were being held. It was obvious that they were trying to prevent having the Russian soldiers be captured alive.” On May 19, Radio Svoboda reported that representatives of international organizations – the European Union Advisory Mission, Amnesty International and OSCE Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe – had visited the two hospitalized soldiers. Doctors reported they were in satisfactory condition. (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)