Russia investigates report on deployment of British SAS Special forces in Ukraine

Russia's state investigative body said yesterday that it was looking into a Russian media report alleging that sabotage experts from Britain's SAS special forces have been deployed to western Ukraine.

Russia's RIA Novosti news agency quoted a Russian security source saying about 20 SAS members had been sent to the Lviv region.

UK's  Special Air Service is an elite military force trained to conduct special operations, surveillance and counter-terrorism.

In a statement, the Investigative Committee said, it would follow up the



report that they had been sent in to assist the Ukrainian special services in organizing sabotage on the territory of Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defence had no immediate comment on the Russian investigation.

Earlier, Britain said, it sent military trainers to Ukraine earlier this year to instruct local forces in using anti-tank weapons. Meanwhile, the British government said a week before Russia's military operations that it had pulled out all troops except those needed to protect its ambassador.