Ukraine war: Anti-Putin fighters say two Russian soldiers 'captured'

Fighters opposed to the authorities successful Moscow accidental they person have captured 2 Russian soldiers successful Belgorod, adjacent the borderline with Ukraine.

Belgorod's apical authoritative said helium had agreed to conscionable the men's captors if the soldiers were inactive alive.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for caller attacks successful its borderline territories, but Kyiv denies being straight involved.

The Russian service said connected Sunday its artillery had deed a "terrorist" radical adjacent the colony of Novaya Tavolzhanka.

"The force scattered and retreated," the connection added.

Earlier, a radical of paramilitaries issued a connection connected the Telegram app, saying they had captured the 2 men but would manus them implicit if Belgorod politician Vyacheslav Gladkov agreed to talks.

The video purported to amusement some captives, though the BBC has been incapable to independently verify their identities.

The connection was posted by the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and described arsenic a associated connection with the Liberty of Russia Legion (FRL).

Both groups privation to topple President Vladimir Putin, and besides reason the full-scale penetration of Ukraine that helium launched successful February past year.

Ukrainian officials accidental the 2 paramilitary organisations dwell of Russian citizens who privation to make a "security zone" for Ukrainians.

The RDK came to prominence successful March for a cross-border raid successful Russia's Bryansk region. Its person is simply a Russian nationalist with alleged links to neo-Nazis.

The FRL is considered a antithetic benignant of organisation that fights alongside Ukrainian troops against Russian forces.

Mr Gladkov replied with his ain Telegram video, saying helium had agreed to the talks if the soldiers were shown to beryllium inactive alive, adding that helium thought they had astir apt been killed.

He labelled the fighters successful question "scoundrels, murderers, fascists", but promised to "guarantee safety" if the talks took place.

And though they asked him to spell to Novaya Tavolzhanka to conscionable them, helium said this was excessively unsafe and that helium would expect them astatine a checkpoint successful the municipality of Shebekino.

It was not instantly wide whether immoderate head-to-head had taken place. Mr Gladkov besides said warring with a radical of "Ukrainian saboteurs" was taking place.

Kyiv has denied having immoderate nonstop engagement successful specified attacks.

But it has painted the increasing unit successful Russian territory arsenic being the inevitable effect of Russia's penetration past year.