An attempt by Russian reporter to draw attention of his country's diplomats to the fate of captive soldiers has demonstrated what looks like the true attitude of Russian officials towards two of their citizens captured by Ukraine's military on May 16.
Two officers, Capt. Evgeniy Yerofeyev and Sgt. Aleksandr Aleksandrov, were captured by Ukrainian forces on May 16 following a firefight near Shchastya in Luhansk Oblast. The ultimate goal of their 16-person group led by Yerofeyev was to prepare an armed seizure of the town, according to Ukraine’s Security Service, which said their unit crossed into Ukraine in March from Rostov Oblast in Russia.
While Yerofeev and Aleksandrov admitted to currently serve as military officers, Russian Defense Ministry maintained they were no longer serving at the time of capture.
Up to date, both Yerofeev and Aleksandrov were not visited by Russian diplomats, with each side providing its own explanations for that.
Senior Advisor for SBU Markian Lubkivsky wrote on his Facebook page that Ukraine is ready to provide access to Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov, but Russian part didn’t apply officially to meet with those soldiers till the end of the work day of May 22.
Yet, Andrei Vorobyov, Charge d’Affaires of the Russian Federation in Kyiv, claimed that on May 23, that the necessary request had already been submitted “five days ago”, but left unanswered by Ukraine’s officials.
The following is English-language transcript of Novaya Gazeta reporter Pavel Kanygin’s attempts to clarify the situation with Russian diplomats in Kyiv on May 23:
– Good day! Can you tell me, please, with whom is it possible to communicate in the embassy?
– What question?
– Urgent. Detained Russians asked me to contact you.
– Russians?
– Captain Yerofeyev and Sergeant Aleksandrov asked me to pass information in the embassy of Russia.
– Well, send it by mail.
– I met recently with them, took an interview, maybe you know.
– By mail, I say, send the information by mail.
– But, probably, such questions have to be decided personally?
– Well not on Saturday, Saturday and Sunday are a weekend!
–I understand it’s a weekend, but there our compatriots, they are in a very awkward situation.
They need some consular support, they wait and can’t wait till arrival
(sound of the interrupted connection, I ring again. – Pavel Kanygin.)
-Hello! It turned off [entrance door intercom]. What is next?
– What place did you turn off?
– “wait for support“.
– Maybe someone can go out finally?
– Nobody is present, I tell you! Today is a day off.
– And how do you solve urgent questions
– Well, how.
– If a man needs help, you will tell him to come on Monday?
– Wait. What kind of urgent help needed?
– I explained you already […] They asked me to tell you, that they are waiting you very much. Actually, you can see this request in an interview. But they asked me to ask you personally, and I came. I fulfil the promise. Do you hear?
After the embassy, correspondent headed to Russian Consular Department. He met a guardian, who told that no one is present and advised to contact the Embassy instead.
