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Ukrainian Prosecutor Demands 15-Year Sentence for Russian Soldiers

Yevgeny Yerofeyev (L) and Alexander Alexandrov sit in a cage during court hearings in Kiev. Sergei Chuzavkov / AP

Ukrainian State Prosecutor Igor Nimchenko has demanded a 15-year prison sentence for two Russian citizens captured in the Lugansk conflict zone in eastern Ukraine last year, Interfax reported on Friday.

Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev were captured as they tried to seize a bridge in the city of Chastye in Eastern Ukraine. When arrested, they were identified as Russian soldiers and charged with terrorist activity in the region.

During criminal proceedings, which began on Nov. 10 at the Goloseevky court in Kiev, the men were also charged with partaking in aggressive acts of war.

The prosecutor told the court that the pair had been working as Russian military operatives in the area.

“There are solid facts confirming that they were part of a military aggression as Russian Special Forces,” he said. ?€?They were professional operatives fulfilling the orders of their commanders in an act of aggressive warfare.?€?

Nimchenko also asked for both men to have their property confiscated.

The Russian Defense Ministry denied allegations that the men were active Russian soldiers and said they were not serving in the army.

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