Three Ukrainian sailors arrested by Russia have decided to remain silent saying they are prisoners of war, defense lawyer Nikolai Polozov said on December, 24.
In the course of investigative activities, Andriy Shevchenko, a Yana Kapu crew member, declared himself a prisoner of war and stopped the conversation with the investigators. His shipmate Yury Budzylo also refused to give testimony. So did navy man Mikhail Ulasyuk.
“He is the twenty-first Ukrainian sailor who told Russian FSB investigators about his being a prisoner of war,” the lawyer said.
On November 25, three Ukrainian ships were captured by the Russian special forces in the Kerch Strait. According to Ukrainian media, Russia took prisoner 24 people, 6 sailors were injured. In response, 30-day martial law was introduced in 10 regions of Ukraine — those bordering Russia, Transnistria and the Black Sea coast, as well as in Chernihiv region bordering Belarus. In turn, Vladimir Putin called the incident ‘provocation staged by Petro Poroshenko ahead of the presidential election in Ukraine’.
КА, belsat.eu
