Uncertainty has surrounded the fate of hundreds of fighters captured by Russian forces in May after a months-long siege of Mariupol. Moscow said at the time they were moved to breakaway Russian-backed entities in eastern Ukraine.
According to Reuters, that quoted Russia's state news agency TASS, an unnamed Russian law enforcement source said late on Saturday that Svyatoslav Palamar, a deputy commander of the Azov battalion, and Serhiy Volynsky, the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, were moved to Russia.
Special forces officers transferred them from Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian province that Moscow recognises as a pro-Russian republic, "to conduct investigative activities with them," Reuters said.
"Other officers of various Ukrainian units were also transported to Russia”, it added.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report and there was no immediate reaction from Kiev.
Earlier this month, Ukraine said its intelligence services were in communication with the captured Azovstal steelworks fighters.
The Azov Battalion, an all-volunteer infantry military unit which formed in 2014 as an extreme right-wing volunteer militia to fight Russian-backed separatists, and the 36th Marine Brigade unit, were key in defending the steelworks.
Kiev is seeking the handover of all the fighters in a prisoner swap with Moscow, but some Russian lawmakers want some of the fighters put on trial.
(mo)
Source: Reuters