You're reading: Authorities say Ukrainian serviceman detained in Crimea for illegally crossing Russian border

SIMFEROPOL - Officials from the Federal Security Service's border guard department for the republic of Crimea have detained a Ukrainian serviceman for illegally crossing the Russian border near the Perekop checkpoint in the northern part of the Crimean Peninsula, the agency press service has reported.

“The detainee had no ID with him, was wearing the camouflaged uniform of the Ukrainian army, was drunk and had numerous bruises and cuts on his face,” the press release says.

According to the report, the Ukrainian was stopped at the border back on Nov. 5. He told the Russian border guards that he serves in the 28th Mykolaiv separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and had left the unit without authorization on Nov. 2.

“The military man said he had made a decision to defect because he does not want to participate in the military conflict in Donbas. He told the commander of his company about this and was then battered by a brigade officer. The detainee left his unit, got to Kherson region and walked to the Russian border along the rails,” the press release says.

In Crimea, the serviceman was given medical assistance. He now feels fine. “He has been provided with good living conditions and food. A decision on the Ukrainian military man’s status and his stay in the Russian Federation is under consideration,” the border guard department said.

Four Ukrainian military men were detained in Crimea for illegally crossing the Russian border back in September. The Federal Security Service’s border guard department for the republic sent them back to Ukraine in early November.