Ukraine restricts entry of Russians

■ Men between 16 and 60 years barred

Moscow, Nov. 30: Ukraine’s President said that the country has barred Russian men between 16 and 60 from travelling to the country. The move comes as the long-simmering conflict between the two nations escalated in the Black Sea on Sunday. Russian border guards opened fire and captured three Ukrainian vessels and their 24member crew.

President Petro Poroshenko tweeted on Friday that the restrictions on Russian travellers have been taken in order to prevent the Russians from forming “private armies” fighting on Ukrainian soil.

A Russian government-appointed ombudswoman said the three commanders of the Ukr-ainian vessels captured near the Russiaannexed Crimean Peninsula last weekend are being transferred to Moscow. The long-simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine bubbled over Sunday when Russian border guards opened

The restrictions on Russian travellers were taken in order to prevent Russians from forming "private armies" fighting on Ukrainian soil

— P. POROSHENKO Ukranian President

fired on three Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea. The Russians then captured the 24-member crew.

Russia said the Ukrainians had violated its border while Ukraine says its ships were acting in line with international maritime rules.

The Tass news agency said that the vessels’ commanders are being transferred to Moscow for interrogation.