You're reading: Reuters: Separatists recapture their leader on the eve of peace talks in Ukraine

 Pro-Russian separatist leader Valery Bolotov was detained by Ukrainian border guards on May 17 then freed by armed supporters in a firefight at the checkpoint, a Ukrainian spokesman said.

The incident took place just a few hours before peace talks in the eastern town of Kharkiv. The talks were initiated by Ukrainian authorities to ease the situation in east.

 Read the story here