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Russian captured by Ukraine in rebel-held territory says everything is fine with me

Captain Yevgeny Yerofeyev of the Russian special forces lies in a military hospital bed, in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, May, 19, 2015. Two wounded Russian soldiers captured while fighting in war-torn eastern Ukraine have been transferred to a hospital in Kiev, Ukrainian officials said Monday as Moscow once again firmly denied any involvement in the fighting. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (The Associated Press)

KIEV, Ukraine – Representatives of Amnesty International and the OSCE have visited the two captured fighters whom Ukraine claims are Russian soldiers in a Kiev hospital.

Captain Yevgeny Yerofeyev of the Russian special forces lies in a military hospital bed, in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, May, 19, 2015. Two wounded Russian soldiers captured while fighting in war-torn eastern Ukraine have been transferred to a hospital in Kiev, Ukrainian officials said Monday as Moscow once again firmly denied any involvement in the fighting. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (The Associated Press)

Russia denies that the men, who were wounded and captured Saturday in rebellious eastern Ukraine, are members of its armed forces. But Ukraine’s security service on Tuesday posted videos of both men saying they were active-duty servicemen.

During the visit to the hospital by the international representatives, one of the men, Capt. Yevgeny Yerofeyev said to my relatives, I want to say that everything is fine with me. I’m alive and well.

Ukraine and Western countries assert that Russia is sending soldiers and equipment to bolster the separatist rebels. Ukraine says the capture of the two men is definitive proof of Russia’s participation in the war.

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