Ukraine detains Russian paratroopers

U.S. ambassador warns of ‘counteroffensive’

By Annie Gowen and Karoun Demirjian August 26 at 7:39 AM WashPost

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine said Tuesday its forces detained a group of Russian paratroopers who crossed the border into eastern Ukraine, and the U.S. ambassador to Kiev warned of a possible “Russian-directed counteroffensive” by pro-Moscow separatists, raising tensions between the two countries ahead of a planned meeting between their presidents at a regional summit.

In a briefing Tuesday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the Ukrainian army detained 10 Russian paratroopers in the Donetsk region, scene of some of the heaviest fighting with separatist rebels in the east. The spokesman said the Russians were detained with their documents and weapons and had provided statements.

In Moscow, news agencies quoted a Russian defense official as saying the soldiers had crossed the border by accident and surrendered to Ukrainian forces without attempting to resist.

(More here.)