Russia detains two 'US mercenaries'

MOSCOW/KYIV－The Kremlin has said two US citizens detained in Ukraine were mercenaries not covered by the Geneva Conventions who should face responsibility for their actions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's comments on Monday were the first formal acknowledgment that the two, identified in US reports as Andy Huynh, 27, and Alexander Drueke, 39, were being held.

According to media reports on Tuesday, the two men are currently held in Donetsk.

The US State Department said earlier that it had been in touch with Russian authorities regarding any US citizens who may have been captured.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered an attritional phase in recent weeks, with Russian forces concentrating on the Donbas region.

The United States and its European allies have provided weapons and financial assistance to Ukraine, but avoided direct involvement in the conflict.

At least two US citizens have been killed in the conflict, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, Ukraine acknowledged difficulties in fighting in its east as Russian forces made advances on two cities ahead of a European Union summit this week expected to welcome Kyiv's bid to join the bloc.

Governor Serhiy Gaidai of the Lugansk region said Russian forces had gained some territory on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had predicted Russia would step up attacks ahead of the EU summit on Thursday and Friday. He was defiant in a late Monday address to the nation, while also referring to "difficult" fighting in Lugansk for Severodonetsk and its sister city Lysychansk.

Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb 24 in its special military operation aimed at "demilitarizing and denazifying" Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that he was "proud "of Russian soldiers in Ukraine, saying Western sanctions "will be overcome".

International concern has focused on trying to restore Ukrainian exports of food. Ukraine is one of the world's main sources of grain and food oils, leading to fears of global shortages.

Russia blames the food crisis on Western sanctions curbing its exports.

Agencies Via Xinhua