KIEV, Nov. 21 - Ukrainian security services have detained two Russian soldiers near the border with Crimea, with Ukraine saying the men were deserters from the Ukrainian army detained on Ukrainian-controlled territory and Russia saying they were seized in Crimea, Reuters reported.

Moscow and Kiev have been locked in conflict since Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, and an uprising by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had detained the two soldiers at around 1 p.m. Moscow time on Sunday in Crimea and had taken them to Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies.

It demanded the two men's swift return to Russia, naming them as Maxim Odintsov and Alexander Baranov.
Ukraine's SBU told Interfax Ukraine that the men had been detained after crossing the border at Chonhar, and had served in the Ukrainian army before deserting to Russia.

Meanwhile, Russia called their arrest "another act of gross provocation" and called for their "immediate return.”

Russia said they were taken from Crimea to Ukraine's Mykolaiv region.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the detainees were apprehended after crossing into Ukrainian-controlled territory.

In a statement, the Russian defense ministry accused Ukraine's security agencies of "fabricating" criminal charges against the two soldiers "for crimes allegedly committed against Ukraine,” BBC reported.

It warned that "psychological and physical pressure" could be exerted on them to produce confessions.

Relations between Russia and Ukraine are at freezing point after Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula more than two years ago, and support for pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier this month, a number of Ukrainian citizens were arrested in Crimea and accused of plotting acts of sabotage against Russia.

Several men were shown on Russian TV confessing to the claims.

Ukrainian officials have rejected the accusations. (rt/ez)