Europe

Ukraine convicts 2 captured Russian servicemen of terrorism

Associated Press
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Yevgeny Yerofeyev sits in a cage during court hearings in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 15, 2016. Ukrainian officials say Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov are Russian special services officers who were captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia said they weren't on active duty when they were captured by Ukrainian troops. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (The Associated Press)

Alexander Alexandrov sits in a cage during court hearings in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday April 15, 2016. Ukrainian officials say Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov are Russian special services officers who were captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia said they weren't on active duty when they were captured by Ukrainian troops. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (The Associated Press)

Yevgeny Yerofeyev sits behing glass in a cage during court hearings in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2016. A Ukrainian court has sentenced two Russian servicemen captured last year to 14 years each in prison after finding them guilty of terrorism and waging a war in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say Yerofeyev and Alexandrov are Russian special services officers who were captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine, but Russia said they weren't on active duty when they were captured by Ukrainian troops. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (The Associated Press)

A Ukrainian court has convicted two Russian servicemen captured last year of terrorism and waging a war in eastern Ukraine.

Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev have acknowledged being Russian servicemen and said they were on a reconnaissance mission. Russia's Defense Ministry, however, said they had resigned from active duty.

Russia has denied sending troops to Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting government troops since April 2014. At least 8,100 people have been killed in the conflict.

The court in Kiev on Monday found Alexandrov and Yerofeyev guilty of terrorism and "waging a war of aggression."

Alexandrov and Yerofeyev have been named as possible candidates to be exchanged for Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, who was sentenced last month to 22 years in prison in Russia.