Some of the captured soldiers who allegedly crossed into Ukraine
"The negotiations were very difficult. However, common sense prevailed, and all ended well," Ragozin said on Saturday night, cited by RIA.
"The most important thing - all the guys are now back with us, in Russia. I want to emphasize that we never abandon our own," he added.
From the very first minute the patrol was caught after accidentally crossing the border the Russian side was doing everything possible to secure their release, Ragozin said.
"Our guys feel sorry that this happened," he said, adding that they will be provided with all necessary "psychological and other assistance."
"I consider it unacceptable that for so many days our soldiers were held by the Ukrainian side and, moreover, were transferred to Kiev," he stated. "At the same time, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who found themselves on the territory of Russia, after the provision of comprehensive care by the relevant authorities were immediately transferred back to Ukraine."
In the meantime, Ragozin announced, 63 Kiev's troops who crossed into Russia this week have been transported to the Nekhoteevka border checkpoint and transferred to the Ukrainian side. The soldiers sought refuge in Russia on Wednesday and were accommodated in a temporary camp in Rostov Region, he said, and provided with all necessary help.
Kiev's army announced August 26 that it had captured the Russian paratroopers after their incursion into Ukraine. The military officials claimed the 10 detained servicemen had crossed the border to fight alongside anti-government forces.
Comment: The Novorossiyans would welcome Russian troops fighting on their side. But as DPR PM Zakharchenko has said, "from a political point of view it is impossible and unrealistic." So why is it that the U.S. can give military aid to Kiev, not to mention fund violent opposition groups in regional conflicts the world over (like Syria), yet the mere thought of Russia providing military support to the victims of an ethnic cleansing program is met with cries of outrage and "invasion"? Double standards reign in this messed up world.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the soldiers had been on a routine patrol, which accidentally strayed into foreign territory without any hostile intent.
President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Friday. "In fact, this is the case, I'm talking seriously. I believe that they had just gotten lost because there are no boundary markers there," the president said.
Putin also said that he had negotiated the release of the paratroopers with his Ukrainian counterpart during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, earlier this week.
"I believe this is just a technical issue. Petro Poroshenko and I talked about this [in Minsk] and he affirmed that the Russian military servicemen would be handed back over to Russia, just as we continue to return soldiers [to Ukraine] from the Ukrainian Army," Putin said.
Moscow has reiterated there have been numerous cases of incursions into Russian territory by Ukrainian soldiers. At least one incident involved an armored personnel carrier, and the soldiers were armed.
At the beginning of August, over 400 Ukrainian troops were allowed to cross into Russia after requesting sanctuary.
Russia has always been quick in handing back Ukrainian soldiers who've crossed into its territory, while giving sanctuary to those servicemen who wanted to stay.
Comment: Both sides of this story stink. The Russian story that they simply got lost is possible, but not very plausible. On the other hand, the idea that the Russians would send paratroopers across the border, allegedly on a secret op, while carrying identifying documents, is even more ridiculous. Can we trust Kiev about the location in which these men were 'captured'? Was it a simple mistake on the troopers' part? Whatever the truth of the matter, it appears to have been resolved skillfully and successfully. If only we could know the details of the negotiations!