The United States has warned of a "significant escalation" in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, ahead of a key meeting Tuesday between the estranged countries’ leaders.
The United States has warned of a "significant escalation" in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, ahead of a key meeting Tuesday between the estranged countries' leaders.
"Repeated Russian incursions into Ukraine unacceptable. Dangerous and inflammatory," US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said on Twitter late Monday.
Rice accused Russian forces of "military incursions" into Ukraine using artillery, air defense systems, tanks and troops, representing a "significant escalation" in the conflict.
"Russia has no right to send vehicles or cargo into Ukraine without Govt of Ukraine's permission," she said.
Her comments came after Kiev's security service said soldiers from the 98th airborne division based in central Russia were captured near the Ukrainian village of Dzerkalne, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Donetsk.
"Investigators opened a criminal probe into illegal border crossing by Russian armed citizens," the security service said in a statement.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Valeriy Geletey said the soldiers were captured on Monday.
"Today Ukrainian armed forces captured many Russian soldiers," Geletey wrote on his Facebook page.
"Officially they are at exercises in various corners of Russia. In reality, they are participating in military aggression against Ukraine," he said.
"I am addressing the relatives of Russian servicemen: find out immediately where your loved ones are. Take them out of Ukraine, where they are being forced to die."
For their part, Russian military sources quoted by state agencies on Tuesday said that Russian troops had crossed the border accidentally.
"The soldiers were really taking part in patrolling a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, they crossed it most likely by accident, on an unequipped, unmarked section," a defense ministry source was quoted as saying by three Russian news agencies.
