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Russian serviceman arrested on Russia-Ukraine border — media

The serviceman joined the Russian army after Crimea reunited with Russia

© ITAR-TASS/Dmitriy Rogulin

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KIEV, March 19 /TASS/. Ukrainian border guards have arrested a Russian serviceman who allegedly wanted to cross the Russia-Ukraine border from the territory of Crimea, the Ukrainian media reported on Thursday.

According to the reports, the sergeant was going to visit his family in Ukraine's Nikolayev region but was arrested on the border on charges of "breaking his oath of allegiance to Ukraine". The serviceman joined the Russian army after Crimea had reunited with Russia. Now, the sergeant may face from 2 to 5 years in prison for deserting.

The Ukrainian media claim that the man was arrested "in the town of Dzhankoi while crossing the border." But Dzhankoi is almost 35 kilometers away from the Russia-Ukraine border.

There has been no official confirmation of the Russian serviceman’s arrest. The Ukrainian media, however, is churning out reports about "the traitor who has received retribution.".

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Ukraine crisis Crimea and Sevastopol

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