A platoon of 40 Russians abandoned their front-line positions and tried to flee to Crimea, Ukraine says

• A platoon of nearly 40 Russians tried to flee to Crimea with their weapons, per a Ukraine official.
• Oleksandr Shtupun said there were reports Russia was hunting them down to try to bring them back.
• Shtupun said the number of Russian soldiers deserting is increasing.

A group of almost 40 Russian soldiers abandoned their positions and tried to flee to Russian-occupied Crimea, a Ukrainian military official said.