17 Ukrainian soldiers cross into Russia, lay down arms – FSB
Edited time: August 16, 2014 10:19
Seventeen Ukrainian soldiers crossed into Russia's southern Rostov region on Saturday and laid down their arms after fleeing the fighting, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said.
“It happened this morning,” Nikolay Sinitsyn, the official regional representative of the FSB, told RT.“They were provided with food, and they’re safe here. We’re carrying out a probe.”
He added that all the Ukrainian soldiers had been provided with food.
“Whoever wants to stay, can do so – after the probe,” Sinitsyn said.
It’s not the first time that Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russia: in early August, 438 soldiers were allowed to enter the country after they were surrounded by self-defense forces on Ukrainian territory, lacking equipment and clear orders from their commanders.
Ukrainian prosecutors have launched over 480 cases into the defection of military personnel since the start of Kiev’s military operation in the east of the country, said Pavel Bogutsky, the Southern Region prosecutor in charge of military cases.
“The investigation into 145 criminal offences has been completed, and the indictments have been sent to court,” he said during a meeting of top military personnel on Friday.
“Over half of these indictments concern people who deserted, refused to carry out their military duties and disobeyed orders,” he added.
Over 30 people have received actual sentences so far, he said.
http://rt.com/news/180772-ukrainian-soldiers-cross-russia/