10 Russian Troops Caught in Ukraine Before Peace Talks

Ten Russian paratroopers have been captured by Ukraine after crossing the border during a patrol yesterday, the AP reports. Russia says they crossed by accident, but Ukraine isn't buying it. Regardless of who's right, the detention of the men raised tensions as talks got underway in Minsk between Vladimir Putin and Ukraine leader Petro Poroshenko, reports the New York Times. Some of the captured men appeared in videos posted on Facebook and said they were indeed sent into Ukraine. One even seemed to criticize their mission, stating "everything is different here, not like they show it on television. We've come as cannon fodder."

A Ukrainian military spokesman tells the BBC that this "wasn't a mistake, but a special mission they were carrying out." The capture may prove another snag in peace talks between the nations. On the heels of Friday's controversial Russian aid convoy, Ukraine says an armored line of Russian military tanks crossed into the country yesterday and battled with border guards. Also, pro-Russian separatists are accused of staging the public humiliation of Ukrainian POWs in a parade at bayonet point through Donetsk, apparently to prevent a peace agreement. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)