Russian Actor Put On Ukraine's 'Wanted List' For Shooting At Troops

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has added a prominent Russian actor to a wanted list for firing a machine gun towards Ukrainian armed forces in eastern Ukraine in October.

The ministry's website said on January 27 that Mikhail Porechenkov is suspected of terrorism or threat to implement a terrorist act and is avoiding Ukrainian investigators.

The ministry said an arrest warrant has been issued for Porechenkov.

In October, Porechenkov was filmed standing with pro-Russian separatists and firing a machine gun near the Donetsk airport while wearing patches that identified him as a member of the press.

On October 31, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry filed criminal charges against Porechenkov after the footage went viral on the Internet.

Porechenkov said it was a staged scene, that he was firing blanks, and that the only bullet-resistant vest and helmet he could find were labelled "press."

Based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax