KIEV (Sputnik) – In November 2016, the Russian Defense Ministry said Staff Sgt. Alexander Baranov and Warrant Officer Maxim Odintsov were kidnapped and whisked across the border to the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine with an apparent goal to press criminal charges against them.
The Security Service of Ukraine said later that the detained Russian servicemen had previously served in the Ukrainian army and after Crimea’s reunification with Russia went to serve in the Russian army. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against them over their alleged desertion and state treason.
"To extend the period of detention of Maxim Odintsov … until August 18, 2017, inclusively," the judge said.
