Two Ukraine soldiers seized by militants
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Mr Yatsenyuk demanded Moscow halt its alleged support for the separatists. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Russian commanders in the separatist east had allegedly issued pro-Kremlin militants with “shoot-to-kill” orders, the Ukrainian Security Service said in a statement.
Ukraine’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that pro-Russian militants had taken two of its soldiers “hostage” in the separatist eastern region of Lugansk.
The ministry said an officer and a soldier were seized by “extremists” on Tuesday and taken to an unknown destination after they pulled over to repair their vehicle.
It said several branches of Ukraine’s army were involved in a search for the missing soldiers, and vowed a “firm response” against those who attack Ukrainian troops.
Russian commanders in the separatist east had allegedly issued pro-Kremlin militants with “shoot-to-kill” orders, the Ukrainian Security Service said in a statement.
PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk demanded Moscow halt its alleged support for the separatists.
“There is only one directive from the Ukrainian foreign ministry — the Russian government has to immediately withdraw its commando groups, condemn the terrorists and demand they leave the installations,” he said.
Armoured vehicles bearing Russian flags rolled through a flashpoint town in eastern Ukraine Wednesday, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the country was on the brink of civil war.
