Ukrainian troops who crossed into Russia to be repatriated

KIEV, Ukraine, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Ukrainian troops on a mission to establish a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the evacuation of civilians in embattled eastern Ukraine crossed into Russia. It is unclear whether the act was intentional or not.

According to Vasily Malayev, a spokesman for the Rostov regional office of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service, approximately 430 Ukrainian troops crossed into Russia early Monday. The Ukrainian troops were asking Russian border guards to establish a humanitarian corridor through Russia.

The Ukrainian troops are being temporarily housed at a field camp and have had access to showers, clean clothes, and food, the FSB noted.

Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko declined to specify the number of Ukrainian troops involved, but noted that "A representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is working with them, talks over their repatriation are underway."

Their repatriation is expected to occur at the Matveyev Kurgan checkpoint.