Two incidents reported just before 9 March 2018

What was reported in the days leading up to 9 March 2018? Two separate incidents stood out, one on the line of contact in eastern Ukraine and one in the Russian North Caucasus.

On 8 March 2018, Volodymyr Ruban, head of the Centre for the Liberation of Prisoners, was detained at the Maiorske checkpoint. He was held during an attempt to transport weapons and ammunition illegally out of the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, as the authorities described the zone at the time.

A day earlier, on 7 March 2018, a Russian Border Guard Service Mil Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Chechnya. At least eight people were killed.

The two events were unconnected and unfolded hundreds of kilometres apart. Each was reported as a distinct incident: one an arrest at a crossing point, the other an aviation accident involving a border guard aircraft.